tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2840342159959778992018-05-24T01:08:41.971-07:00Miss Giraffe's ClassMiss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.comBlogger48125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-21576198721802151682017-06-25T10:45:00.001-07:002017-12-01T14:07:08.532-07:00How to Organize Phonics Pocket Chart CentersPhonics pocket chart centers are one of my favorite ways to practice reading. Kids love moving around letters to build the words and get a lot of practice when they sort words by the phonics sound they’re practicing, by word family, or however else you or they decide to sort the words.<br /><br />One of the most common e-mails I get from people who have my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phonics-Centers-Pocket-Chart-BUNDLE-2357636" target="_blank">big yearlong bundle of Phonics Pocket Chart Centers</a> is a) they absolutely love them, but b) how in the world do you organize all these?!<br /><br />I include a lot of words in each of the sets for each phonics sound so there is a lot to store! They’re really versatile so you may pull from them at any point in the school year to use/review (and you’ll want to use them year after year) so you want an organization system in place that works for you and is easy to access. I've included some affiliate links (I get commission on purchases made through the link) to show you exactly where you can get these amazing organization pieces! :)<br /><br />Let me introduce you to these beautiful&nbsp;<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N7OVUBM/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;me=&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=8d4ebeefedf5004600c2754bf2e38e13" target="_blank">bins I use for center storage</a>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AUWFBaGzMDE/WU8d0q2KTlI/AAAAAAAAETk/zSkTsx_z8xkmC-t63aL5Sg06CsCN5dKagCLcBGAs/s1600/Centers%2BBuckets%2B1%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AUWFBaGzMDE/WU8d0q2KTlI/AAAAAAAAETk/zSkTsx_z8xkmC-t63aL5Sg06CsCN5dKagCLcBGAs/s640/Centers%2BBuckets%2B1%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Read about how to organize centers with these fun phonics centers storage tips!" width="480" /></a></div><br />I LOVE them! The link I shared above is for the 2 pack of them. I got 2 of them so I could have a bin for every sound.<br /><br />They’re cute, they’re in rainbow color order, and they help me keep things organized so obviously I’m in love :) Really though, they make organizing my centers so much easier. I have each phonics sound in its own bin with the picture word cards in there. For example, in the “sh” bin are the SH sound picture word cards:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TNPYOYxUEho/WU8d0SzcWnI/AAAAAAAAETs/QCPjpWaacrYkhfQ-DaaaKTlDEp3oj2gkQCLcBGAs/s1600/Centers%2BBuckets%2B1%2BFish%2B%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TNPYOYxUEho/WU8d0SzcWnI/AAAAAAAAETs/QCPjpWaacrYkhfQ-DaaaKTlDEp3oj2gkQCLcBGAs/s640/Centers%2BBuckets%2B1%2BFish%2B%25284%2529.JPG" title="How to store phonics centers for each phonics sound you learn during the year in a cute and organized way!" width="480" /></a></div><br />It makes it really easy to find the phonics sound I want and the picture word cards for it. Please note that the sorting mats do not fit in these (the individual bins are meant for holding 4x6 pictures so they’ll hold centers up to that size). I keep those all separate anyway so students (or I) can invent my own sorts whenever.<br /><br />Each week, you simply just grab the bucket for the phonics sound you want to put in the pocket chart center and take the picture word cards out of it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-shPDyI8Py0o/WU8d0t7_lSI/AAAAAAAAETo/GUVLp5m8IAQ-sZbPPHwg-O_nrAqp0F3cwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Centers%2BBuckets%2B2%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-shPDyI8Py0o/WU8d0t7_lSI/AAAAAAAAETo/GUVLp5m8IAQ-sZbPPHwg-O_nrAqp0F3cwCEwYBhgL/s640/Centers%2BBuckets%2B2%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Reading centers storage solution for the entire year that is super easy to manage" width="480" /></a></div><br />I tried putting them in baggies and in my filing cabinet but it was just too bulky for me so I love this solution a lot more. I also love that they’re in a little briefcase so I don’t have to make towers of stacked buckets to put in a cabinet that can all fall when I try to grab the one I want (who else has had that happen?! And then some fall out and down and open - such a mess!) Hopefully I’m not the only one that that’s happened to :) These fit perfectly in the case that clamps shut so you can shove it anywhere. Each bucket has a little divider thing too so they pop right back in place when you’re done using them.<br /><br />The one above has each set of pocket chart centers for the different short vowels, long vowels, digraphs, and blends.<br /><br />This one has the sets for the various vowel teams and R controlled vowels:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_2_eBea1KVE/WU8d1O3IA0I/AAAAAAAAETw/ZirBqro4pIglaEQxTdtquf34VeHIJWcJwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Centers%2BBuckets%2B2%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_2_eBea1KVE/WU8d1O3IA0I/AAAAAAAAETw/ZirBqro4pIglaEQxTdtquf34VeHIJWcJwCEwYBhgL/s640/Centers%2BBuckets%2B2%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Great tips for how to organize phonics centers for all the sounds you learn throughout the year so you can quickly grab the new phoneme each week" width="480" /></a></div><br />Again, you just pull the sound you’re working on and it has the picture word cards for that sound! Here is my bucket for the EE EA sound:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r5ToR41WAIA/WU8d1VluU2I/AAAAAAAAET0/_fvI6mIENFc_Mu8f1sEyop_WMDWoAzYwgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Centers%2BBuckets%2B2%2BRead.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r5ToR41WAIA/WU8d1VluU2I/AAAAAAAAET0/_fvI6mIENFc_Mu8f1sEyop_WMDWoAzYwgCEwYBhgL/s640/Centers%2BBuckets%2B2%2BRead.JPG" title="These little buckets are so perfect for holding pocket chart centers cards or any reading or math center 4x6 or less" width="480" /></a></div><br />I just used a marker to label the fronts of the buckets. I actually used a dry erase marker so that I can change them if I ever want to use the bins for something else. Since they’re plastic, it rubs right off if you want to change it. You could use a permanent marker if you don’t want it to rub off easily but I like organizing and re-organizing things so I usually use dry erase on things in case inspiration strikes me to go on a re-organizing spree :)<br /><br />As you guys know, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phonics-Centers-Pocket-Chart-BUNDLE-2357636" target="_blank">all the pocket chart centers</a> come with alphabet letter cards to build the words. The vowels are in red but also come in black text like the consonants if you don’t want them to stand out. I personally use the red but it’s up to you!<br /><br />I used to just keep mine in a stack at the pocket chart which worked fine but then a little while ago, an Instagram friend (I’ll find and post her link as soon as I find it!) who uses my centers showed me this super cute pocket chart she had that the letters fit perfectly in!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c0A5rF_UwpU/WU8d1TqY6hI/AAAAAAAAET4/5Mloa7GpxvEOmy8DYnLpp-NM9zjyUiuFACEwYBhgL/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2BAlphabet%2Bclose.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c0A5rF_UwpU/WU8d1TqY6hI/AAAAAAAAET4/5Mloa7GpxvEOmy8DYnLpp-NM9zjyUiuFACEwYBhgL/s640/Pocket%2BChart%2BAlphabet%2Bclose.JPG" title="Love this pocket chart that perfectly fits alphabet letter cards for easy word building and reading activities. Great post about how to organize centers!" width="480" /></a></div><br />You can get <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01C6CN1KK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=755bea512215f25ce3e16a6389640614" target="_blank">the pocket chart here!</a><br /><br />Isn’t it so cute? I love the dots and that it’s black so the letters really pop. It’s perfect for storing the letters and also for kids to simply grab the letter they want without shuffling through a big stack – and it also makes clean up a lot faster! <br /><br />I just put a stack of each letter in each pocket in alphabetical order and it’s really easy to just grab each letter you want while word building. I have it right next to my regular pocket chart so kids can see both at the same time.<br /><br />So let’s say your kids are building -ing words, they’d probably grab a decent amount of i, n, and g letters but then go one at a time for the letters at the beginning of the words like k, s, and r.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hb0EWs_87KM/WU8d2-xMhTI/AAAAAAAAEUQ/CAHvjRpDHHg3GYl-Ee2dJiUMbN5RPiWkwCEwYBhgL/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenters%2Bng%2Bwords.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hb0EWs_87KM/WU8d2-xMhTI/AAAAAAAAEUQ/CAHvjRpDHHg3GYl-Ee2dJiUMbN5RPiWkwCEwYBhgL/s640/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenters%2Bng%2Bwords.JPG" title="Spelling words with the -ing sound in a pocket chart center and other fun phonics ideas" width="480" /></a></div><br />If you want to make the pocket chart center self-checking, you can put the picture word cards you choose and only the letters to build them with in. This way, kids know they only use those letters and if they have extra or if the last word(s) they build don't make sense, they know to fix it. Having the letters in the pocket chart above makes it really easy to pull all the letters to make those sets and - bonus - the kids put them back at the end of the week :)<br /><br />You can also cut the words off of the bottom of the picture cards to make it more challenging.<br /><br />Like I said, the centers are really versatile so I keep a stack of the sorting mats kids can sort words by in a pouch near the pocket chart in case they want to invent their own sort.<br /><br />Using this same center above, you could also have kids sort words by -ng word family.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ITJn6KBq5dQ/WU8d2Xn6MeI/AAAAAAAAEUI/QhGy1HrKDswf3_p-vQ8-lS4YDxPMXQ4SACEwYBhgL/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenters%2Bng%2Bh.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ITJn6KBq5dQ/WU8d2Xn6MeI/AAAAAAAAEUI/QhGy1HrKDswf3_p-vQ8-lS4YDxPMXQ4SACEwYBhgL/s640/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenters%2Bng%2Bh.JPG" title="Tips for how to implement and organize phonics centers in the classroom" width="640" /></a></div><br />I have a ton of ending blends resources (as well as lots of things for all the other phonics sounds) if you need more. I absolutely love making phonics resources :) You can also look at my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/12/digraphs-activities-for-first-grade-and.html" target="_blank">Digraphs post</a> or <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/03/ew-ue-ui-activities.html" target="_blank">EW/UE/UI post</a> to see a lot of my phonics resources with those sounds as an example (all of the activities I show in those posts come in almost all the other phonics sounds too).<br /><br />You can also check out my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/09/short-activities-and-resources.html" target="_blank">Short A Resources and Ideas post</a> to see all the other ways I use the picture word cards for fun activities! I put a bunch of my favorites in that post :)<br /><br />One of my favorite ways to sort words is by the phonics sound it includes like during EE EA week, sorting the words by which sound it contains:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k_bvEkJU5ng/WU8d2jC5HlI/AAAAAAAAEUM/eEbpPixf3DsOyojB8Bryn91Ls8p5oHHyACEwYBhgL/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenters%2Bee%2Bea.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k_bvEkJU5ng/WU8d2jC5HlI/AAAAAAAAEUM/eEbpPixf3DsOyojB8Bryn91Ls8p5oHHyACEwYBhgL/s640/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenters%2Bee%2Bea.JPG" title="Fun ideas for practicing phonics in a hands on and visual way. Vowel teams can be tricky so this ee ea sort and other activities are great practice." width="480" /></a></div><br />You can also help kids distinguish by the sound <i>they hear</i> rather than spelling for tricky words like which OW sound a word has.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vv7wS5gItUM/WU8d3EtVcGI/AAAAAAAAEUU/WUNLV_SUvicQsw-oxh1hH3ko9tk9scHoQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenters%2Bow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vv7wS5gItUM/WU8d3EtVcGI/AAAAAAAAEUU/WUNLV_SUvicQsw-oxh1hH3ko9tk9scHoQCEwYBhgL/s640/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenters%2Bow.JPG" title="Sorting words by which OW sound the word has. Great listening practice for this tricky phonics sound!" width="480" /></a></div><br />Toward the end of the year, you can also grab a mix of words that make the long a sound (from the a_e set and the ai/ay set) and a mix of words from the other long vowel sounds and have them sort by long vowel. Or mix and match any of the sets for so many sorting opportunities.<br /><br />For some of the digraphs, I like to sort by whether the digraph is at the beginning of the word or the end of the word. It’s a great opportunity to kids to read and listen to the sound within the word.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oMovzWRdQdU/WU8d3MSZHcI/AAAAAAAAEUY/7d3vEHkqCaY5XHf92AT3Ou2ZuBT8hplhQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenters%2Bsh%2Bv.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oMovzWRdQdU/WU8d3MSZHcI/AAAAAAAAEUY/7d3vEHkqCaY5XHf92AT3Ou2ZuBT8hplhQCEwYBhgL/s640/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenters%2Bsh%2Bv.JPG" title="Hands on digraphs practice where kids sort picture words by whether they start with SH or end with SH… great practice for hearing sounds within words with picture support" width="480" /></a></div><br />Or by what sound the word begins with - in this case, which S blend the word begins with:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1bhQt6KZFR8/WU8d2E4_UmI/AAAAAAAAEUE/y6LlYHtDs2sb0fE2JjczPXlaIqj6eb2WQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenters%2BS%2Bblends.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1bhQt6KZFR8/WU8d2E4_UmI/AAAAAAAAEUE/y6LlYHtDs2sb0fE2JjczPXlaIqj6eb2WQCEwYBhgL/s640/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenters%2BS%2Bblends.JPG" title="S blends picture sort where kids sort the words by which initial S blends they begin with" width="480" /></a></div><br />For initial blends, I definitely like to practice a ton so I do the same sort for R blends, L blends, 3 letter blends, etc.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YRr-yA3wSJ4/WU8d1zco32I/AAAAAAAAEUA/NPaj5dRwZI09PmfwGPI9itLWqA7rEvDqgCEwYBhgL/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenters%2BR%2Bblends.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YRr-yA3wSJ4/WU8d1zco32I/AAAAAAAAEUA/NPaj5dRwZI09PmfwGPI9itLWqA7rEvDqgCEwYBhgL/s640/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenters%2BR%2Bblends.JPG" title="R blends word sort to practice initial blends in a fun hands on and visual way… great for speech therapy!" width="480" /></a></div><br />As well as spelling out the words with the blend… I think when they have to actually put the G and R at the beginning of GRILL, it really helps solidify that G and R together say grr when they physically manipulate it and see it alongside the picture while reading the word.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kQKUD21WJIg/WU8d10QlxvI/AAAAAAAAET8/Grt0nLjq7ZwbijWd8Q9Let8J8zSoRDMtQCEwYBhgL/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenters%2BR%2Bblends%2Bwords.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kQKUD21WJIg/WU8d10QlxvI/AAAAAAAAET8/Grt0nLjq7ZwbijWd8Q9Let8J8zSoRDMtQCEwYBhgL/s640/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenters%2BR%2Bblends%2Bwords.JPG" title="Spelling words with initial R blends in a pocket chart center and other fun and hands on phonics ideas" width="480" /></a></div><br />I also get asked what pocket chart I have. This is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lakeshore-Magnetic-Pocket-Chart/dp/B009NM64VK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1466613783&amp;sr=8-4&amp;keywords=magnetic+pocket+chart&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=91b60bd58f1f06d858a2b3430e72ee99" target="_blank">the pocket chart I have</a>.<br /><br />It is amazing! I’ve mentioned it before but I can’t stress enough how nice it is to have a magnetic one. You can hang it in a pocket chart center but then quickly grab it and put it on your whiteboard in seconds (assuming your whiteboard is magnetic) if you want to show your kids something, do a sorting activity together, build words together, explain/show how to do a new activity, etc. It just sticks on my whiteboard so I can put it up and take it down easily.<br /><br />I hope this post has been helpful in explaining how I store and organize my pocket chart centers as well as a few fun ways to use them! I’ve had people tell me via email and social media other smart ways they organize the materials (pencil pouches, baggies, bins, etc.) so if you also use my pocket chart centers, I’d love for you to leave a comment about how you organize them! Different ways work for different people so I’d love for you to share your way - maybe it works more for someone else reading this than my system! When we share our ideas, we all get better so I always appreciate new ideas, perspectives, approaches, etc. :) Thank you so much for reading!<br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><br /><div><span style="font-size: large;">I'd love if you took a moment to follow me on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/themissgiraffe/pins/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MissGiraffesClass/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/missgiraffesclass/" target="_blank">IG</a>&nbsp;for more fun ideas like this. Thanks!</span></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: medium;"></span><br /><div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Check out these other fun posts:</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/12/digraphs-activities-for-first-grade-and.html" target="_blank">Digraphs Activities for First Grade and Kindergarten</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2017/05/teacher-tricks-for-math.html" target="_blank">Teacher Tricks for Math</a></span><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2017/04/teacher-tricks-for-reading-and-writing.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Teacher Tricks for Reading and Writing</span>&nbsp;</a><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/03/phonics-fluency-notebooks.html" target="_blank">Phonics Fluency Notebooks</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/10/cvc-words-roll.html" target="_blank">CVC Words Roll</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/07/building-number-sense-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">Building Number Sense in First Grade</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/fact-fluency-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">Fact Fluency in First Grade</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Also - don't forget to join&nbsp;<a href="http://eepurl.com/1WAO9" target="_blank">Miss Giraffe's Class</a>&nbsp;so you never miss out on fun ideas and exclusive&nbsp;<b>free stuff</b>&nbsp;from me only for subscribers!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's a picture for you to pin to save to read this again later if you want! :)</span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hEKZD7z4Evg/WiHBMQpRJkI/AAAAAAAAGXY/oENv6NHyr9M-Bt1SmPy7Fk77BM4d6x24gCLcBGAs/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenter%2BActivities%2BClassroom%2BOrganization.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to organize pocket chart centers in your classroom! Love these classroom organization ideas for organizing reading centers!" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="576" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hEKZD7z4Evg/WiHBMQpRJkI/AAAAAAAAGXY/oENv6NHyr9M-Bt1SmPy7Fk77BM4d6x24gCLcBGAs/s640/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenter%2BActivities%2BClassroom%2BOrganization.PNG" title="How to organize pocket chart centers in your classroom! Love these classroom organization ideas for organizing reading centers!" width="384" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div><div><br /></div>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-70820663787160665892017-05-10T14:37:00.000-07:002017-05-17T13:40:26.464-07:00Teacher Tricks for MathNeed some new teacher tricks up your sleeve for MATH?! I am really excited to share some of my favorite math teaching ideas that I use for instruction, centers, and independent work with you!<br /><br />Make sure you also check out the <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2017/04/teacher-tricks-for-reading-and-writing.html" target="_blank">Teacher Tricks for Reading and Writing</a> I just posted recently too – and I’ve mapped out a lot more fun posts coming your way! :) I have included some affiliate links (I get a commission for purchases made through the links) in this post so you can easily find some of the things I show. I don’t care whether or not you buy anything – feel free to just idea scavenge if you want :) I just wanted to make it easy for you to find them!<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9a0Jvqj5_gw/WRNnh1-9yPI/AAAAAAAAEO4/aX3GgHATfV4pD_an50WcIECQUZ-kTLGIwCEw/s1600/Magnet%2Bcubes%2BTeacher%2BTrick.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Add magnets to the back of math cubes to use for teaching on the whiteboard. Click for a ton more math teaching tricks!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9a0Jvqj5_gw/WRNnh1-9yPI/AAAAAAAAEO4/aX3GgHATfV4pD_an50WcIECQUZ-kTLGIwCEw/s640/Magnet%2Bcubes%2BTeacher%2BTrick.JPG" title="Add magnets to the back of math cubes to use for teaching on the whiteboard. Click for a ton more math teaching tricks!" width="480" /></a></div><br />The first thing I want to share with you is adding magnets to the backs of <a href="http://www.teacherslovelists.com/best-teacher-tools/math-must-haves/" target="_blank">math manipulatives</a>. I love the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0104RTCMK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;colid=WB6VQX6QATR3&amp;coliid=I39DB37CCQTS1H&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=b03ca36202fb97188a22af8278e1127d" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">magnets I have</a> – you just peel the sticker off the back and stick them on anything to make it a magnet… LOVE!<br /><br />Then you can use math manipulatives on the whiteboard when you’re teaching! You can do so many different counting, adding, subtracting, etc. activities with cubes on the whiteboard where kids can see visuals of your “thinking” as you move the cubes.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_ohq0TbNS_Y/WRNniHCb1sI/AAAAAAAAEO8/fValHbRSZPYAE-rRdEa7xWhcV9M_0PeKwCEw/s1600/Magnet%2Bcubes%2Bwhiteboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Great tips for how to make any math manipulative into a magnet to use on the whiteboard!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_ohq0TbNS_Y/WRNniHCb1sI/AAAAAAAAEO8/fValHbRSZPYAE-rRdEa7xWhcV9M_0PeKwCEw/s640/Magnet%2Bcubes%2Bwhiteboard.jpg" title="Great tips for how to make any math manipulative into a magnet to use on the whiteboard!" width="480" /></a></div><br />You really can put them on anything! If you’re teaching measurement with a ruler, put a few magnets on the ruler so it holds the ruler on the board in place as you hold things up to show kids how to measure items around the classroom. So much easier than trying to hold both!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lJhsdt35DG8/WRNnicT02fI/AAAAAAAAEPI/POB-LtFkbg4emTva_QXNwyyt49lSJ0ExQCEw/s1600/Magnet%2Bruler.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A ton of math teaching tricks like how to add magnets to a ruler so you can teach measuring with a ruler on the whiteboard." border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lJhsdt35DG8/WRNnicT02fI/AAAAAAAAEPI/POB-LtFkbg4emTva_QXNwyyt49lSJ0ExQCEw/s640/Magnet%2Bruler.JPG" title="A ton of math teaching tricks like how to add magnets to a ruler so you can teach measuring with a ruler on the whiteboard." width="480" /></a></div><br />My favorite thing to use magnet-ed math manipulatives for is personal work trays! My dollar store has magnetic cookie sheets (for, yes, only a $1!) so I bought a bunch of them and they are PERFECT for so many things! I’ve shown you how I use them for word building with <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000OW9Q22/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B000OW9Q22&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=ID2BAGB2YOH65NVZ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">alphabet magnets</a> in my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/09/short-activities-and-resources.html" target="_blank">Short A activities</a> post but I also use them a lot for math.<br /><br />Want to know another teacher trick? You can write on them with dry erase markers!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iqdD21XsLSA/WRNnhAzPosI/AAAAAAAAEPs/ne61zCybQTIG-Fky7QpFtWrXg8AL2ANHgCEw/s1600/CS%2Bshapes%2Bsort%2Bsides%2BTT.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Use a dry erase marker to write on cookie sheets to create a ton of fun math sorts! So many teach ideas on this site!" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iqdD21XsLSA/WRNnhAzPosI/AAAAAAAAEPs/ne61zCybQTIG-Fky7QpFtWrXg8AL2ANHgCEw/s640/CS%2Bshapes%2Bsort%2Bsides%2BTT.JPG" title="Use a dry erase marker to write on cookie sheets to create a ton of fun math sorts! So many teach ideas on this site!" width="480" /></a></div><br />I was so excited when I discovered I could write on them with dry erase markers and it wipes right off! It allows you to make so many different activities right on the board and change them as much as you want to which is great for small groups or even independent centers. You can also use <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006IFGW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;colid=WB6VQX6QATR3&amp;coliid=I3CVVTO5K4Z63&amp;psc=1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=1a71399c5602252177394e0456ac3aa0" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">wet erase markers</a> if you find the kids are wiping off the directions themselves.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wDy8gI86gsU/WRNnhdL20TI/AAAAAAAAEPs/qJQc1ZLpRVsBkGvGkvMsv5F8UOgOHyj1ACEw/s1600/CS%2Bshapes%2Bsort%2Bsides%2BV.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tons of math teaching ideas like adding magnets to the backs of pattern blocks to create sorts on a magnet cookie sheet." border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wDy8gI86gsU/WRNnhdL20TI/AAAAAAAAEPs/qJQc1ZLpRVsBkGvGkvMsv5F8UOgOHyj1ACEw/s640/CS%2Bshapes%2Bsort%2Bsides%2BV.JPG" title="Tons of math teaching ideas like adding magnets to the backs of pattern blocks to create sorts on a magnet cookie sheet." width="480" /></a></div><br />You can easily change this sort from sorting shapes by how many sides the shape has to sorting the shapes by their name (or any sort you want!) by simply wiping off what you wrote and rewriting :) This makes it so easy to transition between different small groups or between kids.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zhuUkKNvyk0/WRNnhHAW34I/AAAAAAAAEPs/ZIo6GRwQ8ikQxBwhfQVCngeguLh9KwZHgCEw/s1600/CS%2Bshapes%2Bsort%2Bnames.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Use a dry erase marker and magnets to create so many different math sorts on a dollar store magnetic cookie sheet - lots of great math ideas if you click the picture!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zhuUkKNvyk0/WRNnhHAW34I/AAAAAAAAEPs/ZIo6GRwQ8ikQxBwhfQVCngeguLh9KwZHgCEw/s640/CS%2Bshapes%2Bsort%2Bnames.JPG" title="Use a dry erase marker and magnets to create so many different math sorts on a dollar store magnetic cookie sheet - lots of great math ideas if you click the picture!" width="480" /></a></div><br />Also, since the cookie sheets are magnetic, kids can hold them in their lap to move around the pieces and have them stay in place. They can even hold them up and turn them around to show you their work without the pieces moving which is great.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JWFNGV3QSE0/WRNniTYCY2I/AAAAAAAAEPs/jlZXpnHBrcYHI5hztR-WItSwgNqQbnROwCEw/s1600/Magnet%2Bpattern%2Bblocks%2BTT.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Add magnets to the backs of pattern blocks so kids can build pictures that stay put! So many teacher tricks on this site." border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JWFNGV3QSE0/WRNniTYCY2I/AAAAAAAAEPs/jlZXpnHBrcYHI5hztR-WItSwgNqQbnROwCEw/s640/Magnet%2Bpattern%2Bblocks%2BTT.JPG" title="Add magnets to the backs of pattern blocks so kids can build pictures that stay put! So many teacher tricks on this site." width="480" /></a></div><br />Having the pieces stay in place is actually awesome for picture building with <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000F8T8U0/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;colid=2P3QRB0N9QNY7&amp;coliid=I1Z9669NE8EGGL&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=32191665e2e3478c836674dd501151e7" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pattern blocks</a>. No one is going to knock into their table and have the picture get messed up (cue the tears) and they’re not going to hit one block by accident that messes up the others, etc.<br /><br />This is actually a great parenting trick as well if you have a younger kid on a long car ride – give them the cookie sheet and the pattern blocks with magnets on the back and let them make pictures in their lap while you drive. Pattern blocks are so much fun!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ft2Kc34SYG0/WRNniZkwpsI/AAAAAAAAEPs/vWjyaGQon7g4-yZSEvxLe-eviqpBwjnyQCEw/s1600/Magnet%2Bpattern%2Bblocks%2Bpicture%2BV.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Awesome trick! Stick magnets to the back of pattern blocks so kids can use a magnetic cookie sheet to create pictures that stay put in their laps - great for long car rides too!" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ft2Kc34SYG0/WRNniZkwpsI/AAAAAAAAEPs/vWjyaGQon7g4-yZSEvxLe-eviqpBwjnyQCEw/s640/Magnet%2Bpattern%2Bblocks%2Bpicture%2BV.JPG" title="Awesome trick! Stick magnets to the back of pattern blocks so kids can use a magnetic cookie sheet to create pictures that stay put in their laps - great for long car rides too!" width="480" /></a></div><br />I have a lot more fun math ideas and games I showed that you can use with pattern blocks in my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/04/composing-shapes-in-1st-grade.html" target="_blank">Composing Shapes</a> post too!<br /><br />Like I said, you can add magnets to the back of anything to make activities. You can add them to <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017D9BDG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;colid=2P3QRB0N9QNY7&amp;coliid=IJ3YJI11VVNEQ&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=70fb6b6e40e21f303d9a74e7450cf5ef" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">red/yellow counters</a> and draw a 10 frame on the cookie sheet (or whiteboard) to do a ton of counting, adding, subtracting, etc. lessons!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oMt0b452aMU/WRNnf3JSzzI/AAAAAAAAEPs/2OtiEGFoBu0YZYmgem-ChzX8n0c135A-wCEw/s1600/10%2BFrame%2BRY%2Bcounters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Stick magnets to the back of red yellow counters for a ton of 10 frame practice to work on number sense, adding, subtracting, etc." border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oMt0b452aMU/WRNnf3JSzzI/AAAAAAAAEPs/2OtiEGFoBu0YZYmgem-ChzX8n0c135A-wCEw/s640/10%2BFrame%2BRY%2Bcounters.JPG" title="Stick magnets to the back of red yellow counters for a ton of 10 frame practice to work on number sense, adding, subtracting, etc." width="480" /></a></div><br />You can also use <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MTQR32W/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;colid=WB6VQX6QATR3&amp;coliid=I3A5BJ5QOKC3YM&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=265ff8570a8636ada77f4933ee967f25" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pom poms</a> of any size by just sticking a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0104RTCMK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;colid=WB6VQX6QATR3&amp;coliid=I39DB37CCQTS1H&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=b03ca36202fb97188a22af8278e1127d" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">magnet</a> to the back. An easy game you can play (shown below) is to have kids roll 2 dice that are different colors and put that many pom poms in their 10 frame to add the 2 together.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dyesi5pfSO8/WRNnfyLTuhI/AAAAAAAAEPs/a96vlen40GgNyec49xR8jRyd4C7mUwQvACEw/s1600/10%2BFrame%2Bballs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to add a magnet to the back of anything to practice ten frames in small group math lessons" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Dyesi5pfSO8/WRNnfyLTuhI/AAAAAAAAEPs/a96vlen40GgNyec49xR8jRyd4C7mUwQvACEw/s640/10%2BFrame%2Bballs.JPG" title="How to add a magnet to the back of anything to practice ten frames in small group math lessons" width="480" /></a></div><br />So as you can see, the pink dice says 4 so they put 4 pink balls into their 10 frame and the orange dice says 3 so they added 3 orange balls. Then you can ask them questions like, “What number did you make?” “How many more to 10?” “How do you know?” etc. for math discussion with you or their partner.<br /><br />Speaking of dice, I LOVE my big fat chunky <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004617DEU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;colid=WB6VQX6QATR3&amp;coliid=IA7PYEMGNL6PP&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=af105ca83baa1e0fff9a58ba491d5587" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">colorful dice</a>. I love that they come in cute colors and also have the white one with extra sides that goes up to 12. It’s great for challenging the higher kids or to use later on in the year.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bRMnt-M0Vpw/WRNnh8eSr0I/AAAAAAAAEPs/5pkKvmMShwEDXOjqcHrcnTKbbo_3RnWVACEw/s1600/Dice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="These dice are my favorite for math centers and games... click to see where to get them" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bRMnt-M0Vpw/WRNnh8eSr0I/AAAAAAAAEPs/5pkKvmMShwEDXOjqcHrcnTKbbo_3RnWVACEw/s640/Dice.JPG" title="These dice are my favorite for math centers and games... click to see where to get them" width="480" /></a></div><br />One math trick with dice that I love is to have kids roll the dice into a bucket! If they’re playing any sort of game or math center that involves dice, you can avoid having dice go flying across the room, off the table, etc. by having them roll into a bucket.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GAJNsb1jtzQ/WRNnhgCT9LI/AAAAAAAAEPs/iauu4eNLeWgDEQbxTdN1a4P9zVoIBG-cgCEw/s1600/Dice%2Broll%2Bbucket.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Have kids roll dice into a bucket so dice don't end up on the floor... and it's quieter too!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GAJNsb1jtzQ/WRNnhgCT9LI/AAAAAAAAEPs/iauu4eNLeWgDEQbxTdN1a4P9zVoIBG-cgCEw/s640/Dice%2Broll%2Bbucket.JPG" title="Have kids roll dice into a bucket so dice don't end up on the floor... and it's quieter too!" width="480" /></a></div><br />All you have to do is say that you lose your turn if your dice don’t land in the bucket and you won’t ever have dice on the floor again :)<br /><br />It’s also a lot quieter than rolling on their desks or tables. You can even glue felt or foam to the bottom of the bucket if you want it to be even quieter. I have a few foam bottom buckets for quiet rolling and it’s wonderful.<br /><br />Another way to keep dice off the floor is to use small containers just big enough to roll dice inside to make little shakers. You do have to use regular sized dice for those. I bought <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006USYEYY/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;colid=WB6VQX6QATR3&amp;coliid=I1SVBG48SLLDC0&amp;psc=1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=0bd8fe9f58c07db09ec7fedf66a4c571" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a pack of the small containers</a> and made sets of them to throw in center buckets. Kids just shake them to roll their numbers. It’s so nice because you always know where the dice are, they don’t end up on the floor, and kids just grab them to use really easily when they need dice.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4b56c_guYeM/WRNnhT1EWGI/AAAAAAAAEPs/WHj29Rj8UM8PTFix9tHo7UooZ1ZwI2qOgCEw/s1600/Dice%2Bcontainers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Put dice in little containers to create dice shakers for kids to grab and go during math centers... they're quieter and dice don't get lost on the floor!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4b56c_guYeM/WRNnhT1EWGI/AAAAAAAAEPs/WHj29Rj8UM8PTFix9tHo7UooZ1ZwI2qOgCEw/s640/Dice%2Bcontainers.JPG" title="Put dice in little containers to create dice shakers for kids to grab and go during math centers... they're quieter and dice don't get lost on the floor!" width="480" /></a></div><br />If you’ve read <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/math.html" target="_blank">my math posts</a>, you know I use dice a lot for hands on math games so it’s nice to have a system for them. Another thing you’ll know from reading my math posts is that I use my number cards from <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Math-Unit-1-Number-Sense-Counting-Forward-Ten-Frames-and-more-1288148" target="_blank">Unit 1</a> (or you can also get them in <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Math-Unit-11-Comparing-Numbers-Skip-Counting-and-Number-Order-2140312" target="_blank">Unit 11</a>) for a ton of different things. I mentioned in my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/07/building-number-sense-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">Building Number Sense</a> post how I even use them for behavior management too so I wanted to explain that a little more!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kfPcfbWUaGg/WRNni85jq_I/AAAAAAAAEPs/nGuHqRxUJvskZUp4ZKIA9uGPQeVZzcmFQCEw/s1600/Number%2Bchart%2Bbehavior%2Bmanagement%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Check out this trick for using your numbers chart as a classroom management strategy!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kfPcfbWUaGg/WRNni85jq_I/AAAAAAAAEPs/nGuHqRxUJvskZUp4ZKIA9uGPQeVZzcmFQCEw/s640/Number%2Bchart%2Bbehavior%2Bmanagement%2B1.JPG" title="Check out this trick for using your numbers chart as a classroom management strategy!" width="480" /></a></div><br />So this shows 50 but I usually start with 20 cards for the first time so it’s a quicker reward and also to solidify numbers 1-20. So, first, pick a reward that the class can earn that they’re really excited about (my favorite is an extra recess with popsicles) and have all the number cards showing in your <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009NM64VK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;colid=4K4OJ40BLPSW&amp;coliid=IW4LF4RAA1W4I&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=1a700ead25a4db58c5a9341bdc6298b6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pocket chart</a>. Also print a second set of number cards, mix them up, and stack them upside down near the chart.<br /><br />When the class gets a compliment for walking nicely in the hallway or the P.E. teacher says they were really good, whatever, tell them they’ll get to pick a number when you get back in class... OR during class, let’s say a group is working so quietly and well together during centers, say something like, “Wow, the blue table is working so hard and are so quiet right now – Aiden, you can go pick a number card.” He’d go up to the stack of number cards by the chart and pick a card. He’d show it to you then you’d flip that number over. When they flip all the number cards over, they get the reward! You could also have them earn mini rewards for completing a row or column.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RL7MR2tDZo8/WRNnjFQzKBI/AAAAAAAAEPs/RYbPlpUjZ_U5VCXGX3Fx0j95wf4p3LPygCEw/s1600/Number%2Bchart%2Bbehavior%2Bmanagement%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Read about this fun classroom management idea that builds number sense at the same time... LOVE!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RL7MR2tDZo8/WRNnjFQzKBI/AAAAAAAAEPs/RYbPlpUjZ_U5VCXGX3Fx0j95wf4p3LPygCEw/s640/Number%2Bchart%2Bbehavior%2Bmanagement%2B2.JPG" title="Read about this fun classroom management idea that builds number sense at the same time... LOVE!" width="480" /></a></div><br />Once they get the awesome reward, they’ll want it again so you can do the number chart up to 50 this time! I recommend doing it up to 50 a few times. It’s great because it really gets them looking at the numbers and talking about them (“We only need to get 42 and 45 to finish that row!”). You can also incorporate learning by pointing to a flipped over number and asking them what it is. They’ll have to look at the numbers before/after/above/below/etc. to figure it out so it’s great <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/07/building-number-sense-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">number sense</a> practice. You can also ask them what number they need to finish a row, count by 5s, etc. Even just have them turn to a partner and ask each other questions about it. You can get a lot of great math talk out of it!<br /><br />If you have one of those awesome <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000CD0SRA/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;colid=2P3QRB0N9QNY7&amp;coliid=I18GZFO0LHCTP3&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=29215126a85aa77cffbe2ec314869358" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">pocket charts that is specifically for displaying the 100 chart</a>, you can also use that and just have as many numbers as you want to practice in it.<br /><br />More fun things you can do is have them get something for finishing a row or column like I said above. Maybe they get a small reward for getting 10 in a row (when you’re using the 100 chart) like half an hour of free choice centers or something fun like that.<br /><br />I have a lot more fun classroom management tips in my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/10/25-chatty-class-classroom-management.html" target="_blank">Chatty Class&nbsp;Classroom Management</a> post and <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/04/classroom-management-strategies.html" target="_blank">20 Classroom Management Strategies You Can Start Right Away</a> post if you want more behavior management ideas!<br /><br />I use the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Math-Unit-1-Number-Sense-Counting-Forward-Ten-Frames-and-more-1288148" target="_blank">number cards</a>&nbsp;for centers all year. Another way I use them goes along with the next trick of sticking magnets to the back of base ten blocks to practice place value. I got a big <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000F8VBBO/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=73ad997afbfdc926fe5299bbce3f10db" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">set of plastic base ten blocks</a> that I use – I think it’d work to stick magnets on the foam ones too but I’m not sure. I used to use foam ones but I like the durability of the plastic ones so that’s what these are.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bnY49aDLgd0/WRNnjcQTBsI/AAAAAAAAEPs/Phr6C0RyBQIvLzv38k3tao1UekBTT6JZwCEw/s1600/Place%2BValue%2Bmagnet%2BCS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to turn your base 10 blocks into magnets to use for teaching in small groups or even on the whiteboard" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bnY49aDLgd0/WRNnjcQTBsI/AAAAAAAAEPs/Phr6C0RyBQIvLzv38k3tao1UekBTT6JZwCEw/s640/Place%2BValue%2Bmagnet%2BCS.JPG" title="How to turn your base 10 blocks into magnets to use for teaching in small groups or even on the whiteboard" width="480" /></a></div><br />You can just give a kid a stack of number cards and have them build each number on their cookie sheet with base 10 blocks. It’s great for building numbers and practicing tens and ones.<br /><br />You could also do this on a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000URFT2M/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;colid=WB6VQX6QATR3&amp;coliid=I1NVO1SS17G2SL&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=383d468483e1803f196c920af8d80a68" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">magnetic whiteboard</a>. A lot of the small whiteboards aren’t magnetic but your big classroom board or easel most likely is so you can use those to practice whole group. :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4rNe8Wq_eSU/WRNnjgUtpGI/AAAAAAAAEPs/rUjwzlR-q4En639UfTngCHUtExA3eNOIACEw/s1600/Place%2Bvalue%2Bmagnet%2BWB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Add a magnet to the back of base 10 blocks so you can use them to teach on the whiteboard or in other fun place value activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4rNe8Wq_eSU/WRNnjgUtpGI/AAAAAAAAEPs/rUjwzlR-q4En639UfTngCHUtExA3eNOIACEw/s640/Place%2Bvalue%2Bmagnet%2BWB.JPG" title="Add a magnet to the back of base 10 blocks so you can use them to teach on the whiteboard or in other fun place value activities" width="480" /></a></div><br />I also use the same materials to play War. Just like the classic card game but with numbers 1-120 instead! If your kids aren’t ready for that big of numbers, just use number cards 1-50 or 1-100 or whatever you think they can handle.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnJDR4SDxKg/WRNnjIXV94I/AAAAAAAAEPs/hbF2HJzU6lAXwPa8qu10jbj4MJUl6lXsQCEw/s1600/Place%2BValue%2Bgame.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fun place value games and activities to play" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZnJDR4SDxKg/WRNnjIXV94I/AAAAAAAAEPs/hbF2HJzU6lAXwPa8qu10jbj4MJUl6lXsQCEw/s640/Place%2BValue%2Bgame.JPG" title="Fun place value games and activities to play" width="480" /></a></div><br />The trick is to have them build their numbers with base 10 blocks to compare. Even if they say they know the answer, building it is great practice and really helps them see numbers conceptually as this many tens, this many ones, etc. which is amazing for building their number sense.<br /><br />Another place value trick is to use a permanent (or wet erase) marker to write 1-10 on a ten block so kids can see what the 10 actually means and that each cube within the 10 is a 1. It’s a really great visual for students to see the “why” behind the vocabulary!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aBJ270qPUYw/WRNnjx83WYI/AAAAAAAAEPs/x9Nz2iiubgYnnWG1T_wAzGFc6fv_Rt_ywCEw/s1600/Place%2Bvalue%2Bwrite%2Bon%2B25.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Write on place value blocks so kids can see what &quot;tens&quot; and &quot;ones&quot; actually mean... so many great math ideas on this post" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aBJ270qPUYw/WRNnjx83WYI/AAAAAAAAEPs/x9Nz2iiubgYnnWG1T_wAzGFc6fv_Rt_ywCEw/s640/Place%2Bvalue%2Bwrite%2Bon%2B25.JPG" title="Write on place value blocks so kids can see what &quot;tens&quot; and &quot;ones&quot; actually mean... so many great math ideas on this post" width="480" /></a></div><br />Definitely read my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/08/place-value-moving-and-new-blog-design.html" target="_blank">Place Value in First Grade</a> post if you want more fun place value ideas and to see the resources from my place value unit in action!<br /><br />It also has tips for how to differentiate your place value lessons. Differentiating is really important to me – not just for your struggling students but for your advanced students as well like I talked about in my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/03/how-to-keep-gifted-students-engaged-and.html" target="_blank">How to Keep Gifted Kids Engaged and Learning</a> post. One easy way to differentiate is to use the different levels of worksheets (or centers) in my math units. The majority of the worksheets in my math units come in 3 levels for each concept – each one has a star in the upper right corner that says the level (A, B, or C) so you can easily give students the level that challenges but doesn’t frustrate them so they’re all working on the same thing but at their level. Another thing the worksheets also have is a self-reflection at the bottom where the student evaluates how they felt about the activity – was it too easy? Just right? Too hard? After they complete the worksheet, they circle at the bottom like this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KRqvK3bT9WI/WRNngveXzcI/AAAAAAAAEPs/8quUxTm6trs6PUmXTLi_dInaGG1sAYAkgCEw/s1600/AU%2BJust%2BRight%2BClip.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Awesome ideas for assessing understanding while your students work" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KRqvK3bT9WI/WRNngveXzcI/AAAAAAAAEPs/8quUxTm6trs6PUmXTLi_dInaGG1sAYAkgCEw/s640/AU%2BJust%2BRight%2BClip.JPG" title="Awesome ideas for assessing understanding while your students work" width="480" /></a></div><br />See how they circled “Just Right” at the bottom of this page? This section lets you know how the activity was for them. They do this after they’re done with the activity. It only takes a bit of time to train them to assess their own understanding correctly. If you notice the little strip they clipped underneath, I have those in full page posters that I go over what each level means in easy to understand kid language (the posters are just bigger versions of the desk strips) so they can reference it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BTXJmiLoJO8/WRNngpoA4uI/AAAAAAAAEPs/6o1HjmyiVYQAE8-9TJIURP0GT48XdRhSgCEw/s1600/AU%2BClip%2BCards%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Checking for understanding without any tests or grading involved... LOVE! Click to read how to use these!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BTXJmiLoJO8/WRNngpoA4uI/AAAAAAAAEPs/6o1HjmyiVYQAE8-9TJIURP0GT48XdRhSgCEw/s640/AU%2BClip%2BCards%2B2.JPG" title="Checking for understanding without any tests or grading involved... LOVE! Click to read how to use these!" width="480" /></a></div><br />I also shrunk the posters down into these little strips kids can keep on their desk and clip how they feel WHILE they work so you can walk around and see how everyone feels about the worksheet you’re doing so easily – I love it. If you see they’ve clipped that it’s too hard, you can stop to help them; if you see they’ve clipped that it’s too easy, you could give them the next level up version of the worksheet to work on instead. Then, you don't have several hands up waiting for you for help - they can keep working and trying until you get to them. They can keep it on their name tag so it's not in the way and you can use them with any subject/activity to always be able to do a quick check for understanding.<br /><br />Instead of clipping, you can also cut the strips into 3 mini cards to put on a binder ring so they can flip to which one they feel like this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0r68tm1LdHg/WRNnfwIbbUI/AAAAAAAAEPs/hQJhneBWsJk82YJ2p3NnOa_6M7im1X-GgCEw/s1600/AU%2BBinder%2BRing%2BToo%2BHard%2Bclose.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to differentiate and check for understanding without any tests or even grading... save this post!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0r68tm1LdHg/WRNnfwIbbUI/AAAAAAAAEPs/hQJhneBWsJk82YJ2p3NnOa_6M7im1X-GgCEw/s640/AU%2BBinder%2BRing%2BToo%2BHard%2Bclose.JPG" title="How to differentiate and check for understanding without any tests or even grading... save this post!" width="480" /></a></div><br />The full page posters and desk strips are all in my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Assessing-Understanding-Posters-2040915" target="_blank">Assessing Understanding pack</a> if you want to use these in your own classroom. They’re really great for assessing understanding during lessons and also having students reflect on their own learning.<br /><br />I also sort the papers kids turn in by what they circled. It’s quick to just sort them into 3 stacks by what they circled. If they circled “Too Hard,” I usually will take that stack out and put it at the small groups table so I know to re-teach that to them in a small group or go over it with them when they have a moment. I also often put it in their Student Drawer (which I have a blog post planned to show you my individual student drawers) so I know to help them with it later if it’s just 1 or 2 kids :)<br /><br />Sorting into 3 piles can also help you make flexible math groups super easily. I don’t like math small groups staying the same for every concept because sometimes a high kid struggles with telling time and a low kid excels with fractions so you want to be flexible in your grouping when you can so everyone gets what they need for each skill. After I sort the papers into 3 piles, you’ll usually find it’s mostly “Just Right” to make 2 or 3 small groups with that you can continue on at grade level with the concept, a handful of “Too Hard” to pull back to re-teach the concept and work on it in a more hands-on and visual way, and a handful of “Too Easy” to pull back to extend the lesson and provide more challenging questions/work with the concept. It’s like having an assessment for every single concept without doing any grading or testing – win win, right?! :)<br /><br />You can also have them put the cards on a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Classics-1-Inch-Diameter-Assorted-TPG-189/dp/B008RNE4W2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=pet-supplies&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1462673402&amp;sr=8-2&amp;keywords=the+pencil+grip+book+rings&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=73b45c2c7dfbc7f4abbe94a183dd124f" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">binder ring</a> next to them while they’re doing centers so you can see how they feel about the center too, even if there isn’t a recording sheet or paper involved.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-voyuTWh885U/WRNng4FNnpI/AAAAAAAAEPs/BVdkMv3qcqwsmpAibooqDqT-7yVUaDDIACEw/s1600/CS%2BColor%2BSort.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Use a dry erase marker and a magnetic cookie sheet from the dollar store to create easy activities and fun sorts for kids" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-voyuTWh885U/WRNng4FNnpI/AAAAAAAAEPs/BVdkMv3qcqwsmpAibooqDqT-7yVUaDDIACEw/s640/CS%2BColor%2BSort.JPG" title="Use a dry erase marker and a magnetic cookie sheet from the dollar store to create easy activities and fun sorts for kids" width="480" /></a></div><br />So if you were doing this simple color sort, if a student thought it was too easy, they would have the "Too Easy" card flipped showing. If they thought it was just right, they’d have that one flipped, etc. There’s a lot of sorts you can do with the cookie sheets like I said – you could change the one above to numbers instead of the color name and they put that many balls under it… or anything!<br /><br />I hope you’ve enjoyed this list of math tricks! I’ve shown other math tricks on my other math posts in the past too if you want more! If you click on “Math” at the top of my site, it’ll take you to a list of links of math concepts I’ve written about so you can look at fun ideas to teach those concepts and such!<br /><br />For example, in my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/09/graphing-and-data-analysis-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">Graphing and Data Analysis</a> post, I show a trick for how you can use a fun daily graphing question to have your students take their own attendance each day AND sneak in a ton of learning.<br /><br />In my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/fact-fluency-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">Fact Fluency</a> post, I show how you can take any cutting and pasting worksheet and turn it into a reusable center. That’s one of my favorite tricks for math and reading!<br /><br />I haven’t written a complete post about using my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bottle-Cap-Math-Centers-GROWING-BUNDLE-2702808" target="_blank">math bottle cap centers</a> yet but another trick is I love recycling bottle caps to use in math and literacy centers. Just write the numbers on the bottle caps and hand them the cards and they make really easy centers! I did show using bottle caps for phonics and word building in my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/06/bottle-cap-cvc-word-building-centers.html" target="_blank">CVC Bottle Cap Word Building</a> post, though, if you want to see and bottle caps make appearances in some of my other posts too:) &nbsp; &nbsp; <br /><br />Thank you so much for reading – I’d love to hear from you in the comments! Happy Teaching!!<br /><div><br /></div>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-12279607791406847002017-04-23T13:03:00.001-07:002017-05-04T14:48:10.115-07:00Teacher Tricks for Reading and WritingWant some teacher tricks for reading, writing, and grammar? I am excited to share with you some fun ideas for literacy that you can use in your classroom or homeschool :)<br /><br />I got a lot of positive response from my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/04/classroom-management-strategies.html" target="_blank">20 Classroom Management Strategies You Can Use Right Away</a> and <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/10/25-chatty-class-classroom-management.html" target="_blank">Chatty Class Classroom Management Strategies</a> and <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/03/how-to-keep-gifted-students-engaged-and.html" target="_blank">How to Help Gifted Kids</a> posts where I compiled a lot of behavior management ideas so I figured I’d write some to show tricks for other topics like reading, writing, math, technology, parents, organization, centers, classroom set up, time management, and a whole lot more – I have a lot of posts planned and I’m really excited to share them with you all so make sure you check back often!&nbsp;I have included some affiliate links (I get a commission for purchases made through the links) in this post so you can easily find some of the things I show. I don’t care whether or not you buy anything – feel free to just idea scavenge if you want :) I just wanted to make it easy for you to find them!<br /><br />Okay so first trick! You’ve probably seen in a lot of my literacy posts that I LOVE highlighting - a trick I love to use is labeling the highlighter!<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-09H5alo9waU/WPzbA6v6DVI/AAAAAAAAELQ/vRGA41I3VOomLNdhacUKdCSHIPW5p0lGACEw/s1600/Label%2Bhighlighters%2Bgrammar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-09H5alo9waU/WPzbA6v6DVI/AAAAAAAAELQ/vRGA41I3VOomLNdhacUKdCSHIPW5p0lGACEw/s640/Label%2Bhighlighters%2Bgrammar.JPG" title="Teaching trick! Label highlighters with what you want kids to highlight – perfect for focusing on particular sight words, phonics sounds, parts of speech, or whatever" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Whatever you want them to highlight, simply write it on a white label and stick it on the highlighter. So easy!! For this activity, I just used one of my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Comprehension-Passages-ULTIMATE-BUNDLE-3006411" target="_blank">Short Vowels Reading Comprehension Passages</a> to practice parts of speech (nouns, verbs, and adjectives).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My favorite highlighters are <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006IEJB/ref=as_li_ss_tl?psc=1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=c4ea8752fad2808ad68064f655f4f44d" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">these chunky ones</a> and you can use any rectangular labels like these <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Avery-All-Purpose-Labels-Inches-White/dp/B000BQOCRK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=office-products&amp;rps=1&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1493486032&amp;sr=1-4&amp;keywords=labels&amp;refinements=p_85:2470955011&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=413fbe334a547896e3006d79366dc8c6" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">rectangular self adhesive labels</a> to stick on them and write what you want kids to highlight.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can also have them highlight a specific phonics sound in a passage. You can also label each highlighter a different sight word for them to highlight when they come across it. Would you judge me if I told you I had a whole drawer of highlighters labeled with each sight word? :) It’s really visual for kids so I like this trick.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of highlighting, have you ever thought of highlighting words IN your pocket chart? Simply cut up <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000AQOH2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;psc=1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=9774e06bf052113580422f8b799e96b4" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">transparent color binder dividers</a> the size of a word and use them to highlight words on your pocket chart!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WUFnq6Xr4Bo/WPzbEokLd8I/AAAAAAAAELk/VkMhQybbeiIryFFZCxpt4XHfAN-p2Nv3QCEw/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2Bhighlighting%2Btrick.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WUFnq6Xr4Bo/WPzbEokLd8I/AAAAAAAAELk/VkMhQybbeiIryFFZCxpt4XHfAN-p2Nv3QCEw/s640/Pocket%2BChart%2Bhighlighting%2Btrick.jpg" title="Love this idea! Cut up transparent color binder dividers to highlight words in your pocket chart either on index cards, sentence strips, or anything – so great for practicing sight words, phonics sounds, etc." width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All you do is get transparent color binder dividers, cut off the tab and a straight line to cut off the 3 hole punches, and then cut what’s left into 8 equal size pieces. I fold it in half the long way, unfold, and cut along the line to get 2 strips. Then I fold the strips in half and cut to get 4 and then again to get 8 pieces total. They’re perfect for any literacy work in your pocket chart!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YlomijNuYAc/WPzbEwg-ixI/AAAAAAAAELs/vDIajjB4LnYR7bycjfRid8iwO1nBpX5eQCEw/s1600/Pocket%2Bchart%2Bhighlighting%2Bclose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YlomijNuYAc/WPzbEwg-ixI/AAAAAAAAELs/vDIajjB4LnYR7bycjfRid8iwO1nBpX5eQCEw/s640/Pocket%2Bchart%2Bhighlighting%2Bclose.jpg" title="Cut up transparent binder divers to create “highlighters” for your pocket chart to highlight words – click here for a lot more teacher tricks for reading and writing!" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you can see here, we’re working on AI and AY so we’re highlighting AY words in yellow, AI words in orange, and then also highlighting the sight word THE in blue when we see it. You can do it for phonics sounds, highlighting sight words, parts of speech, or anything you want to sort. You can do it whole group or even have students do it as a center.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know I’ve raved about my <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B009NM64VK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;colid=4K4OJ40BLPSW&amp;coliid=IW4LF4RAA1W4I&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=a5580ad62a3d06be2fcb6f8fb8aee227" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">magnetic pocket chart</a> before but I just love it! It’s perfect for my daily graphing question (read <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/09/graphing-and-data-analysis-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">my Graphing post</a> if you want to see that) as well as a ton of math and literacy activities including the one above. For highlighting words, I just use index cards or basic <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000AN7G0O/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;colid=DTS5L3942QBJ&amp;coliid=IEPU8985WPVGQ&amp;psc=1&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=897b836faffffccfa6140717d7878082" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">sentence strips</a> in the pocket chart then use the cut up dividers to highlight any sight words, parts of speech, words with the focus phonics sound, etc.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What I use my pocket chart most for is my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phonics-Centers-Pocket-Chart-BUNDLE-2357636" target="_blank">Phonics Pocket Chart Centers</a> – I have them for the entire year of phonics sounds so they’re a weekly staple. I showed a lot of ways to use them in my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/09/short-activities-and-resources.html" target="_blank">Short A</a> post, <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/12/digraphs-activities-for-first-grade-and.html" target="_blank">Digraphs</a> post, <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/03/ew-ue-ui-activities.html" target="_blank">EW UE UI</a> post, etc. so you’ve probably seen them a lot but I wanted to show you another way to use them using DOLLAR STORE mini trash cans!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tXGhyUqWFuw/WPzbGdBHO3I/AAAAAAAAEMY/CW7IRiUT-NU8_HcKO1pkWPzJs7UEZr6VQCEw/s1600/Trash%2BCans%2BSH%2BCH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tXGhyUqWFuw/WPzbGdBHO3I/AAAAAAAAEMY/CW7IRiUT-NU8_HcKO1pkWPzJs7UEZr6VQCEw/s640/Trash%2BCans%2BSH%2BCH.JPG" title="These removable AND dry erase labels are amazing – you can use them to label anything like here how each week the sound they’re sorting changes so you just wipe it and write the new sound each week!" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Are these trash cans not the cutest? And I got them for only a dollar each! I’ve shown you them before but I had to again because I am obsessed with these <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Avery-Removable-Labels-Border-41450/dp/B00BPZNQR8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1493486635&amp;sr=8-1&amp;keywords=avery+41450&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=774aa11ca8d55ef1f0f25751803bf6db" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">removable dry erase labels</a> I stuck on them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Why am I obsessed? DRY ERASE. I can literally write any phonics sound on them and then wipe it off and make it a new one the next week. They’re also removable so you can just peel them off if you want to put them somewhere else.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2TwmWwuCS7g/WPzbGhD1T3I/AAAAAAAAEMY/iI4pDZKUXoorEcXdPiJJUc3NhpS4kM9YgCEw/s1600/Trash%2BLabel%2Bpeels%2Boff.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2TwmWwuCS7g/WPzbGhD1T3I/AAAAAAAAEMY/iI4pDZKUXoorEcXdPiJJUc3NhpS4kM9YgCEw/s640/Trash%2BLabel%2Bpeels%2Boff.JPG" title="Read about these amazing dry erase removable labels that are perfect for so many things!" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I use these on everything because they’re just so easy to write/wipe or peel off if I don’t want them on something anymore. They’re great for labeling buckets, centers, cubbies, etc. especially if you have students moving a lot, use a wet erase marker to label their cubbies with these instead so you can switch names easily.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here I just write and wiped the SH / CH sort to make it a Nouns / Verbs sort in about 5 seconds :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fzqhdmrx3qA/WPzbGf7CVlI/AAAAAAAAEMY/pCABqxQLynQj-mJJ7XTFOmkDbMwj3sMdQCEw/s1600/Trash%2BCans%2BNouns%2BVerbs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Fzqhdmrx3qA/WPzbGf7CVlI/AAAAAAAAEMY/pCABqxQLynQj-mJJ7XTFOmkDbMwj3sMdQCEw/s640/Trash%2BCans%2BNouns%2BVerbs.JPG" title="Mini trash cans are perfect for sorting words by parts of speech… so many ideas for teaching reading and writing on this post" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kids love using dry erase markers too so I try to let that happen whenever possible. A teacher trick I LOVE is to put worksheets in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Staples-31866-Heavy-Duty-Sheet-Protectors/dp/B00PHMTR8C/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=7544f9ab721a1f85af84fb6957ca3eee" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">heavy duty sheet protectors</a> in a binder then let kids use dry erase markers to do the worksheets. It just makes it seem ten times more fun for some reason.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PD7z8LodYvc/WPzbGJ_PZEI/AAAAAAAAEMY/WG8SZSXS-hEx1eMxMRuvJWE7uHEXMuQYgCEw/s1600/Teacher%2BTrick%2Bworksheets%2Bsheet%2Bprotectors.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PD7z8LodYvc/WPzbGJ_PZEI/AAAAAAAAEMY/WG8SZSXS-hEx1eMxMRuvJWE7uHEXMuQYgCEw/s640/Teacher%2BTrick%2Bworksheets%2Bsheet%2Bprotectors.JPG" title="So many teacher tricks on this blog… put worksheets in sheet protectors in a binder, give kids a dry erase marker, and you have reusable workbooks you can use over and over" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is actually out of one of my Phonics Sound Binders which I plan on writing a post all about them soon to show how I have a binder for each phonics sound that kids can grab and work on that particular phonics sound. This is the Long i binder. All they need is the binder and a dry erase marker.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also plan on showing you this teacher trick in that post but here’s a sneak peek – use <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Scotch-Multi-Purpose-Fasteners-Inches-RF7070/dp/B004N1Y094/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1493487001&amp;sr=8-9&amp;keywords=scotch+fasteners&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=7ff7a499d2ea6b1d414fde1c817b3622" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">this tape</a>&nbsp;to create reusable centers in your binder from regular worksheets instead of having to deal with scissors and glue. You definitely need heavy duty sheet protectors for this, not just regular ones, or they may rip when kids pull off the pieces. I also showed how I do this for math in my Fact Fluency post.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UgWkPoBjF5E/WPzbF1aINkI/AAAAAAAAEMY/qZmRdNkWC9YIcwiQ57axPzzdrxTBw9DVgCEw/s1600/Teacher%2BTrick%2Bworksheet%2Bcenters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UgWkPoBjF5E/WPzbF1aINkI/AAAAAAAAEMY/qZmRdNkWC9YIcwiQ57axPzzdrxTBw9DVgCEw/s640/Teacher%2BTrick%2Bworksheet%2Bcenters.jpg" title="Read how to turn any boring worksheet into a fun reusable center" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Both those worksheets are from my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Long-I-Worksheets-and-Activities-NO-PREP-1487050" target="_blank">Long I No Prep pack</a> – I have them for almost every phonics sound. If you go to my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/literacy.html" target="_blank">Literacy</a> page, you can see all the sounds I have them for. I show a lot of the fun activities from them in the digraphs and other literacy posts I mentioned earlier.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love fun hands on worksheets but I also love to do a lot of hands on centers which I think is a teach trick in and of itself :) Prefixes aren’t a lot of fun by nature but they can be if you have a lot of visuals and games. Check out my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/09/prefixes-and-suffixes-teaching-ideas.html" target="_blank">prefixes and suffixes post</a> for examples of what I mean!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can also switch up activities you already have by using them in different ways. If you read my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/06/bottle-cap-cvc-word-building-centers.html" target="_blank">CVC Bottle Cap Word Building</a> post, you saw how I use recycled bottle caps for differentiated word building phonics centers. Well I also use them for a small groups game!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All you need are the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/CVC-Words-Bottle-Cap-Centers-BUNDLE-2611746" target="_blank">Bottle Cap Center word cards</a> for whatever phonics sound you’re working on and some <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0017D9BDG/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&amp;colid=2P3QRB0N9QNY7&amp;coliid=IJ3YJI11VVNEQ&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=9ac40075e83ee221c36447c126fd3750" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">red/yellow counters</a>.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BdE4Qv2Yl8M/WPzbEH_36KI/AAAAAAAAEMY/6-eqmmcINhor6xdf5gpH_relTlu-LP5CwCEw/s1600/BC%2Bbat%2Bbug.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BdE4Qv2Yl8M/WPzbEH_36KI/AAAAAAAAEMY/6-eqmmcINhor6xdf5gpH_relTlu-LP5CwCEw/s640/BC%2Bbat%2Bbug.JPG" title="Super fun reading game to play to practice sounds… click for directions!" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Print out the version that has ALL the letters in the circles (none missing) and cover up as many as you want with counters. You could do just beginning sounds, just vowel sounds, just ending sounds, all the sounds, whatever!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have the student put their finger on the counter and say the sound it is then slide it off to check. If they’re correct, they get to keep the chip. If not, it just goes back in the pile. Whoever has the most chips at the end of the game wins (or it can just be fun collecting chips)!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UCMI0qk7cGI/WPzbEP45eFI/AAAAAAAAEMY/y8ZgX6CuCBwmDBYM-FTQM0Q1d6ELy174ACEw/s1600/BC%2Bbed%2Bbus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UCMI0qk7cGI/WPzbEP45eFI/AAAAAAAAEMY/y8ZgX6CuCBwmDBYM-FTQM0Q1d6ELy174ACEw/s640/BC%2Bbed%2Bbus.JPG" title="Small group reading game where you cover the letters and if the student says the sound correctly, they get to keep the chip. Super fun!" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This can be a really fun game to play in small groups, especially for struggling students, and it’s so easily differentiated by how many/which letters you cover.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Like I said, I have these cards for just about every phonics sound so you can play the game all year. It’s also a great game or activity to have parent volunteers do with struggling kids because it’s easy and fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another helpful trick for struggling students is using <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ziploc-Slider-Storage-Bags-Gallon/dp/B00RBQ0G2I/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1493487337&amp;sr=8-3&amp;keywords=slider+storage+bag+gallon&amp;linkCode=ll1&amp;tag=prb79-20&amp;linkId=8dc13cbe92890923023df54882d3eb4d" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">a storage bag with a slider</a> to practice ABC order.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WP215EurYAk/WPzbFYgqmeI/AAAAAAAAEMY/HYriHoMiFzENTlNcGwmnjmh0c8lYhcyZwCEw/s1600/Teacher%2BTrick%2BABC%2Border.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WP215EurYAk/WPzbFYgqmeI/AAAAAAAAEMY/HYriHoMiFzENTlNcGwmnjmh0c8lYhcyZwCEw/s640/Teacher%2BTrick%2BABC%2Border.JPG" title="Use a sliding storage bag to help practice ABC order… so many teaching reading and writing tips on this blog" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Simply use a permanent marker to write the alphabet across a bag then give it to students with their worksheet. Teach them to start at the first letter (A) to see if any words start with A. If they find one, they write it down; if not, they slide to the B and check for words that start with B and so on. It’s really helpful for students who struggle with putting words in ABC order.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o7YN-GSw1VM/WPzbFVnX1pI/AAAAAAAAEMY/RgKraySSx7w5QaZhvQHayM5baZvoa_4igCEw/s1600/Teacher%2BTrick%2BABC%2BOrder%2Bfull.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o7YN-GSw1VM/WPzbFVnX1pI/AAAAAAAAEMY/RgKraySSx7w5QaZhvQHayM5baZvoa_4igCEw/s640/Teacher%2BTrick%2BABC%2BOrder%2Bfull.JPG" title="Click to read about this trick for teaching kids how to put words in alphabetical order!" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That sheet is out of my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Long-A-Worksheets-and-Activities-NO-PREP-1457863" target="_blank">Long A No Prep pack</a> – there are ABC order sheets in all of them, though, so you can practice it weekly with each phonics sound. It’s one of those skills that most kids usually get but need to practice often to keep fresh so I like to practice it every week with the new phonics sound(s).</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay so one of my FAVORITE tricks is a genius idea I saw from <a href="http://www.sweetsoundsofkindergarten.com/2016/04/clipboard-stand-teacher-hack.html" target="_blank">Sweet Sounds of Kindergarten</a> that helps A TON with the frustration and mess of rough drafts and copy them into final drafts. Behold…. the clipbord stand!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5BOHNUsIlIw/WPzbERsEjNI/AAAAAAAAEMY/EovgrkgLMisjwNHcZy1521GfQQyQ6mRzACEw/s1600/Clipboard%2Bstand%2Bfront.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5BOHNUsIlIw/WPzbERsEjNI/AAAAAAAAEMY/EovgrkgLMisjwNHcZy1521GfQQyQ6mRzACEw/s640/Clipboard%2Bstand%2Bfront.JPG" title="Directions for how to make any clipboard into a clipboard stand! Perfect for so many things… definitely read!" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Take any clipboard and turn it into a stand! Seriously classroom changing. They can just clip their rough draft onto it and have it right in front of them to copy into a final draft so they’re not shuffling papers. AND… it doesn’t get lost. An edited rough draft that gets lost is even more devastating than a lost glue stick cap (the horror!), am I right?!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All you do is buy an 8 x 10 picture frame (go to the dollar store or clearance sections to find them cheap) and take the back out of it and adhere it to the back of a clipboard and it’s done!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ohIRExyYDo/WPzbD_HkWiI/AAAAAAAAEMY/-YBHUbpuqH4VS_mH7fzR_bpL1FYGdcBCgCEw/s1600/Clipboard%2Bstand%2Bback.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--ohIRExyYDo/WPzbD_HkWiI/AAAAAAAAEMY/-YBHUbpuqH4VS_mH7fzR_bpL1FYGdcBCgCEw/s640/Clipboard%2Bstand%2Bback.JPG" title="Directions for how to make any clipboard into a clipboard stand! Perfect for so many things… definitely read!" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I actually just doubled up strong tape to adhere mine but you could probably hot glue gun it or something if you wanted. It is seriously the best!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have no prep writing crafts for a ton of different themes, holidays, and writing genres that I like to do each week. They’re quick and easy to make and they make really cute bulletin boards so I usually like to do a rough draft first so this is perfect for that. If you want to check out the writing crafts I do, I have a post for most months showing that month’s crafts :) Just click on the month you want: <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/january-writing-crafts.html" target="_blank">January</a>, <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/february-writing-prompts.html" target="_blank">February</a>, <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2017/02/march-writing-activities-and-bossy-r-activities.html" target="_blank">March</a>, <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2017/04/april-writing-activities-and-fun-spring.html" target="_blank">April</a>, <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/10/october-writing-crafts-for-kids.html" target="_blank">October</a>, <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/11/november-writing-crafts.html" target="_blank">November</a>, or <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/12/december-writing-crafts.html" target="_blank">December</a>.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also use clipboard stands to display center directions!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bZOP4bXZAcs/WPzbFDUYPiI/AAAAAAAAEMY/Q_N_YVc6es8zLvTZRfe-OjOT5FS2hIMWgCEw/s1600/Race%2Bto%2BGraph%2Bcenter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bZOP4bXZAcs/WPzbFDUYPiI/AAAAAAAAEMY/Q_N_YVc6es8zLvTZRfe-OjOT5FS2hIMWgCEw/s640/Race%2Bto%2BGraph%2Bcenter.JPG" title="Directions for how to make any clipboard into a clipboard stand! Perfect for so many things like holding up math center directions… definitely read!" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The centers in my first grade math units have directions so I just clip them onto the clipboard stand to easily make any desk an independent center! This game is Race to Graph from <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Math-Unit-16-Graphing-and-Data-Analysis-2054494" target="_blank">Unit 16: Graphing and Data Analysis</a> which you can see the other activities in action on <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/09/graphing-and-data-analysis-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">my Graphing post</a> about that unit. It has a lot of other pictures and ideas – if you go to my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/math.html" target="_blank">MATH</a> page, I actually have a lot of different math posts by concept (place value, adding 3 numbers, etc.) that you can click on from that page.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay more tricks!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Do you ever receive notebooks from parents or donations but they’re college ruled? Well I still use them! Just teach kids to draw a line covering 2 lines, then skip one, a line covering 2 lines, skip one, etc. It’ll take a second to teach them at first but most will get it pretty quick, especially if you do it often. For younger kids, you can do it for them – but it creates nice and big space for kids to practice correct handwriting formation… and you don’t feel like you have a cabinet full of notebooks you can’t use! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Jys-X6gLc8/WPzbFoIdL5I/AAAAAAAAEMY/YZmSa0kN_GkAaS1DIAJhCzeSwRwdzckUgCEw/s1600/Teacher%2BTrick%2Bhandwriting%2Bpractice.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Jys-X6gLc8/WPzbFoIdL5I/AAAAAAAAEMY/YZmSa0kN_GkAaS1DIAJhCzeSwRwdzckUgCEw/s640/Teacher%2BTrick%2Bhandwriting%2Bpractice.JPG" title="How to use college ruled notebook paper to help kids practice their handwriting and a lot of other great teaching writing and reading tricks" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another handwriting trick is to use a highlighter to create instant tracing worksheets. If you have a kid who struggles with handwriting or even just a certain letter, you can just write in highlighter and have them trace it with a pencil.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dKoFqtPer6M/WPzbGPLv9XI/AAAAAAAAEMY/R8pqF6TjFQ03Fjre2ekj7CUR89SblNp2QCEw/s1600/Teacher%2Btrick%2Bhighlighter%2Bhandwriting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dKoFqtPer6M/WPzbGPLv9XI/AAAAAAAAEMY/R8pqF6TjFQ03Fjre2ekj7CUR89SblNp2QCEw/s640/Teacher%2Btrick%2Bhighlighter%2Bhandwriting.JPG" title="Use a highlighter to create instant tracing worksheets without having to use a computer… so great for helping kids with handwriting" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can also just create instant worksheets at your small groups table to practice sight words, spelling words, whatever! It’s nice because you can really tailor it to them without even using a computer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One more trick for this post! File your books to read aloud by month! I just get a little magazine holder type bin (like the ones on top of my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/rainbow-drawers.html" target="_blank">rainbow drawers</a>) for each month and put my special books for reading aloud in it. It makes it so easy to pull books to read or to quickly fill your display bookshelf if you have one each month. For example, spread out your <a href="http://www.teacherslovelists.com/best-books/books-by-behavior/" target="_blank">classroom management books</a>&nbsp;between your August and September bins, your <a href="http://www.teacherslovelists.com/best-halloween-books-october-read-alouds/" target="_blank">Halloween books</a>&nbsp;in the October bin, etc. &nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay so that’s all the reading and writing tricks I’m sharing with you today! Like I said above, I have A LOT of posts planned for more teacher tricks. If you scroll down the right hand side of my blog, there are a lot of different ways to follow me and my blog so you don’t miss out! If you try any of these tricks, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below!! I hope you found them helpful! :)</div>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-2250248827842817772017-04-11T18:42:00.000-07:002017-04-12T11:36:59.781-07:00April Writing Activities and Fun Spring LearningIs it Spring already?! April writing activities, learning about life cycles, eggs and chicks and butterflies, oh my! I love Spring because students are finally starting to follow all the classroom routines with ease… right before the year’s almost over, of course :) but I also love it because there are a lot of fun spring themed science, writing, and math opportunities in April and May.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y1Lz4scpWFs/WO0vl4gsgaI/AAAAAAAAEKU/rdjTnN7ooXUlTutKkXSSZLIQOBXPdB9CQCEw/s1600/Spring%2Bwriting%2Bcrafts%2Bactivities.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Spring writing activities that are easy no prep crafts for fun April and May learning" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y1Lz4scpWFs/WO0vl4gsgaI/AAAAAAAAEKU/rdjTnN7ooXUlTutKkXSSZLIQOBXPdB9CQCEw/s640/Spring%2Bwriting%2Bcrafts%2Bactivities.jpg" title="Spring writing activities that are easy no prep crafts for fun April and May learning" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Life cycles are a fun topic in science in spring. We learn about the life cycle of a butterfly first. I love to integrate science into writing as you can see in the picture above from my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spring-Writing-Crafts-Bundle-No-Prep-Writing-Activities-2482834" target="_blank">Spring Writing Crafts pack</a>. I think kids learn a lot more when they write about their learning.<br /><br />After learning about the life cycle of a butterfly, an easy activity is the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Butterfly-Life-Cycle-1111389" target="_blank">Find and Write: Butterfly Life Cycle</a> activity. Simply put the big picture/word cards around the room (tape them to the wall, etc.) and have kids go on a hunt to find them, match the picture on their recording sheet, and write down the vocabulary word.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zOXXAhqiKkE/WO0kC_otYcI/AAAAAAAAEJc/LvS1Z7rB9TMBVbwTW9yo29vthelMXWieACEw/s1600/Life%2BCycle%2Bof%2Ba%2BButterfly%2BFind%2BWrite.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Cycle of a Butterfly science center that is fun and easy – simply put the picture cards around your classroom and let students find and write their new science vocabulary words" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zOXXAhqiKkE/WO0kC_otYcI/AAAAAAAAEJc/LvS1Z7rB9TMBVbwTW9yo29vthelMXWieACEw/s640/Life%2BCycle%2Bof%2Ba%2BButterfly%2BFind%2BWrite.JPG" title="Life Cycle of a Butterfly science center that is fun and easy – simply put the picture cards around your classroom and let students find and write their new science vocabulary words" width="480" /></a></div><br />It’s nice because it gets kids moving up out of their seats in a controlled, educational way. You could have the entire class do it at once or have it be a group center during literacy rotations of just 4-6 kids. Kids love having to be detectives and find the words. You can also give them magnifying glasses and clipboards if you want to make it more fun :)<br /><br />After learning about the butterfly life cycle, kids can show what they’ve learned by writing out the steps of the life cycle with this easy no prep craft. I’ve shown you my other no prep crafts in other posts by month (I’ll put them all at the bottom of this post so you can check them out if you want!) – I love them because kids simply write, color, cut, and glue onto construction paper to make an instant craft that makes a great bulletin board. I was so sick of cutting out this many legs, this many eyes, etc. for crafts so I created these to make it absolutely no prep for the teacher except for printing it out :)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mzl6c5vh6wc/WO0vlxPgtAI/AAAAAAAAEKM/9SYf8CdeqbksnIBfy6QCNNvo_KjoBb61QCEw/s1600/Butterfly%2Blife%2Bcycle%2Bwriting%2Bactivity%2Bcraft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Super cute butterfly writing craft activity that is no prep and perfect for young kids learning about butterflies and their life cycle" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mzl6c5vh6wc/WO0vlxPgtAI/AAAAAAAAEKM/9SYf8CdeqbksnIBfy6QCNNvo_KjoBb61QCEw/s640/Butterfly%2Blife%2Bcycle%2Bwriting%2Bactivity%2Bcraft.jpg" title="Super cute butterfly writing craft activity that is no prep and perfect for young kids learning about butterflies and their life cycle" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />Like I said, I love integration across subjects whenever possible so it’s great to mix math in there too! This <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Butterfly-Place-Value-Puzzle-Center-944184" target="_blank">Butterfly Place Value puzzle</a> is an easy way to get in a ton of numbers practice:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WPENJJEjN00/WO0kAoX---I/AAAAAAAAEI4/wW1SlIIvk8wOEjgFUgVZ9dokVCnQGKe1gCEw/s1600/Butterfly%2BPlace%2BValue%2BPuzzle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Butterfly place value puzzle where kids grab a card with base 10 blocks and figure out the number it is and color it in to reveal a butterfly! Click this to see a video of it being done… such a fun way to practice number sense!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WPENJJEjN00/WO0kAoX---I/AAAAAAAAEI4/wW1SlIIvk8wOEjgFUgVZ9dokVCnQGKe1gCEw/s640/Butterfly%2BPlace%2BValue%2BPuzzle.JPG" title="Butterfly place value puzzle where kids grab a card with base 10 blocks and figure out the number it is and color it in to reveal a butterfly! Click this to see a video of it being done… such a fun way to practice number sense!" width="480" /></a></div><br />For this activity, kids grab a card that shows a number in base 10 blocks. They figure out what the number is then color it the color of the card on their hundreds chart. Once they do all the cards, it reveals a picture of a butterfly!! These are a kid favorite and sneak in a ton of number practice!<br /><br />I actually love to put the cards on a binder ring (simply punch a hole in the top left corner of each card) like I show in <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BEgp9mJw0-N/?taken-by=missgiraffesclass" target="_blank">this video</a> from my Instagram.<br /><br />The cards come in both this base 10 blocks version to practice place value AND a full set of cards where it just says the number. Those are much easier, of course, and great for practicing number sense. If you haven’t read <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/07/building-number-sense-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">my huge post about building number sense</a> and have kids struggling with it, I recommend reading that post to get some ideas – I shared a lot of my secrets :) I also have a post about <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/08/place-value-moving-and-new-blog-design.html" target="_blank">teaching place value</a> and a lot of <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/math.html" target="_blank">other math concepts</a> if you want more math tricks.<br /><br />Anyway! Next is learning about the life cycle of a frog and another <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Frog-Life-Cycle-Find-and-Write-Science-Writing-Center-Activity-1113115" target="_blank">Find and Write activity</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CC81uHOIrOs/WO0kDHcvtDI/AAAAAAAAEJg/p8xHhDXpKbQGENNCrb3D1rPBdATVI5xfgCEw/s1600/Life%2BCycle%2Bof%2Ba%2BFrog%2BFind%2BWrite.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Life Cycle of a Frog science center that is fun and easy – simply put the picture cards around your classroom and let students find and write their new science vocabulary words like tadpole, froglet, etc." border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CC81uHOIrOs/WO0kDHcvtDI/AAAAAAAAEJg/p8xHhDXpKbQGENNCrb3D1rPBdATVI5xfgCEw/s640/Life%2BCycle%2Bof%2Ba%2BFrog%2BFind%2BWrite.JPG" title="Life Cycle of a Frog science center that is fun and easy – simply put the picture cards around your classroom and let students find and write their new science vocabulary words like tadpole, froglet, etc." width="480" /></a></div><br />Then, have students practice their first, next, then, last, etc. style of writing with a Frog no prep craft to tell you the life cycle of a frog. These make a super cute April science/writing bulletin board as well!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BB8ymmJZYKc/WO0vl7blMRI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/VJ-Uve7d2KAGVF5FMEy3mEJ08yvD7nWWQCEw/s1600/Frog%2Blife%2Bcycle%2Bwriting%2Bactivity%2Bcraft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Frogs writing craft activity that is no prep and perfect for young kids learning about the life cycle of a frog" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BB8ymmJZYKc/WO0vl7blMRI/AAAAAAAAEKQ/VJ-Uve7d2KAGVF5FMEy3mEJ08yvD7nWWQCEw/s640/Frog%2Blife%2Bcycle%2Bwriting%2Bactivity%2Bcraft.jpg" title="Frogs writing craft activity that is no prep and perfect for young kids learning about the life cycle of a frog" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />Another fun thing to learn and write about in spring is insects! I LOVE all of the picture heavy bugs books available for kids – kids just eat them up with the “scary” real life pictures. They’re great for nonfiction reading practice, especially the little readers for small groups.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1dDyt3g3ZU/WO0kHVtrdJI/AAAAAAAAEJ8/L51KGIbHK-8tQSfTTDtLGr1KOrQXIIVBwCEw/s1600/Spring%2BInsects.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Insects writing craft that is NO PREP perfect for learning about bugs in science in the springtime! Click for a ton of fun Spring activities and writing prompts!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1dDyt3g3ZU/WO0kHVtrdJI/AAAAAAAAEJ8/L51KGIbHK-8tQSfTTDtLGr1KOrQXIIVBwCEw/s640/Spring%2BInsects.JPG" title="Insects writing craft that is NO PREP perfect for learning about bugs in science in the springtime! Click for a ton of fun Spring activities and writing prompts!" width="480" /></a></div><br />This is a quick little writing craft to do about insects if you learn about them too!<br /><br />I also have one specifically for Ants because I know a lot of teachers teach specifically about ants so it’s an easy way for students to recap their learning with this cute little guy!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fTi2nUVPcAM/WO0kDPM9d0I/AAAAAAAAEJk/qLcADdvIMMkAuqJgdOoerB7WN0gTKsEowCEw/s1600/Spring%2BAnts%2Bwriting%2Bcraft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ants writing craft that is NO PREP perfect for learning about insects in science in the springtime! Click for a ton of fun Spring activities and writing prompts!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fTi2nUVPcAM/WO0kDPM9d0I/AAAAAAAAEJk/qLcADdvIMMkAuqJgdOoerB7WN0gTKsEowCEw/s640/Spring%2BAnts%2Bwriting%2Bcraft.jpg" title="Ants writing craft that is NO PREP perfect for learning about insects in science in the springtime! Click for a ton of fun Spring activities and writing prompts!" width="480" /></a></div><br />Plants and how they grow is also another spring science concept!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rsLSghYBcBE/WO0kHKM4JWI/AAAAAAAAEJ0/3v4chRe3XwQlmCZz-H5cHHSQLD9RNPQOwCEw/s1600/Spring%2BHow%2BPlants%2BGrow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How Plants Grow writing craft that is NO PREP perfect for learning about plants in science in the springtime! It’s also a great opportunity to practice how to writing. Click for a ton of fun Spring activities and writing prompts!" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rsLSghYBcBE/WO0kHKM4JWI/AAAAAAAAEJ0/3v4chRe3XwQlmCZz-H5cHHSQLD9RNPQOwCEw/s640/Spring%2BHow%2BPlants%2BGrow.JPG" title="How Plants Grow writing craft that is NO PREP perfect for learning about plants in science in the springtime! It’s also a great opportunity to practice how to writing. Click for a ton of fun Spring activities and writing prompts!" width="480" /></a></div><br />This can be an easy transition into practicing How To writing. Here's another fun one to practice procedural writing:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kF6GASWK-L4/WO0kHUJ-JGI/AAAAAAAAEJ4/WBBA_MQdu6YQXRQCBAxZm3O0_6LQlIScQCEw/s1600/Spring%2BHow%2Bto%2BFly%2BKite.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to Fly a Kite is a great Spring writing prompt for kids to practice how to writing in a fun way" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kF6GASWK-L4/WO0kHUJ-JGI/AAAAAAAAEJ4/WBBA_MQdu6YQXRQCBAxZm3O0_6LQlIScQCEw/s640/Spring%2BHow%2Bto%2BFly%2BKite.JPG" title="How to Fly a Kite is a great Spring writing prompt for kids to practice how to writing in a fun way" width="480" /></a></div><br />If you have the time to do a “science experiment” of taking the kids out for an extra recess where you try to fly a kite, it is such a fun way to bring their writing to life. I am awful at actually getting the kite up in the air but maybe you’re more skilled than me ;) After flying the kite, they can write about it in how to writing format to practice procedural writing.<br /><br />… and it wouldn’t be spring without some bunnies! Here’s a quick little craft to do if you learn about rabbits:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-llCZN0fQI8g/WO0kHhdNWpI/AAAAAAAAEKA/SC3xHg7Hq-oAQn6q_MMPgNjTAAdH-BGhQCEw/s1600/Spring%2BRabbits.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="So many fun Spring themed writing prompts and ideas that are wonderful for practicing writing" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-llCZN0fQI8g/WO0kHhdNWpI/AAAAAAAAEKA/SC3xHg7Hq-oAQn6q_MMPgNjTAAdH-BGhQCEw/s640/Spring%2BRabbits.JPG" title="So many fun Spring themed writing prompts and ideas that are wonderful for practicing writing" width="480" /></a></div><br />Speaking of bunnies… I have some fun Easter bunny crafts too if you do Easter activities in your home or classroom. All of the writing no prep crafts you saw above this (not the Find and Writes) are in the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spring-Writing-Crafts-Bundle-No-Prep-Writing-Activities-2482834" target="_blank">Spring Writing Crafts pack</a>.<br /><br />Now I’m going to show you some fun no prep crafts from my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Easter-Writing-Craft-Activities-No-Prep-2482832" target="_blank">Easter Writing Crafts pack</a>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j7t7gthuXNE/WO0kCdsLuII/AAAAAAAAEJU/WS70hzFtYUUTuYGe1CYhKyiCKV_vNHCeACEw/s1600/Easter%2Bwriting%2Bcrafts%2Bv.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A TON of fun Easter writing activities that are no prep crafts and other fun ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j7t7gthuXNE/WO0kCdsLuII/AAAAAAAAEJU/WS70hzFtYUUTuYGe1CYhKyiCKV_vNHCeACEw/s640/Easter%2Bwriting%2Bcrafts%2Bv.JPG" title="A TON of fun Easter writing activities that are no prep crafts and other fun ideas" width="480" /></a></div><br />A really fun way to get their imaginations going is to pretend that THEY are the Easter bunny and tell them to come up with a funny story of what would happen if they were the Easter bunny. Brainstorm some funny mishaps together and then let them write their own.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RRIJ-mOsiO0/WO0kB2wshcI/AAAAAAAAEJM/LY5T5wVL_wsG3P2j_pdpy2YuKnzNO0v4ACEw/s1600/Easter%2Bbunny.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="If I Were the Easter Bunny writing prompt and other fun Easter writing activities - there are a ton of ideas on this post for Spring learning in science, writing, and math!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RRIJ-mOsiO0/WO0kB2wshcI/AAAAAAAAEJM/LY5T5wVL_wsG3P2j_pdpy2YuKnzNO0v4ACEw/s640/Easter%2Bbunny.JPG" title="If I Were the Easter Bunny writing prompt and other fun Easter writing activities - there are a ton of ideas on this post for Spring learning in science, writing, and math!" width="480" /></a></div><br />Another creative writing piece they can do is The Magic Egg… another fun one to brainstorm what the magic egg could be, what could it do, etc. and then let them come up with their own stories.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x4GD4HTjX_I/WO0kB8FyTmI/AAAAAAAAEJI/MMA9Yen_pcQCt_MdAE2ihXkP-fiA9U0RwCEw/s1600/Easter%2BMagic%2BEgg%2Bwriting%2Bcraft.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="The Magic Egg is a fun Spring creative writing prompt! Click to check out all these fun April writing activities and ideas on this post!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-x4GD4HTjX_I/WO0kB8FyTmI/AAAAAAAAEJI/MMA9Yen_pcQCt_MdAE2ihXkP-fiA9U0RwCEw/s640/Easter%2BMagic%2BEgg%2Bwriting%2Bcraft.JPG" title="The Magic Egg is a fun Spring creative writing prompt! Click to check out all these fun April writing activities and ideas on this post!" width="480" /></a></div><br />I love using plastic eggs for so many things in April. You can make centers so much more fun by putting things in eggs :) One fun idea is to get the clear plastic eggs and put dice in them for when they roll dice in centers. It’s just an easy way to incorporate a little fun AND the dice don’t go flying everywhere!<br /><br />Another how to writing opportunity is How to Hunt for Eggs:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wN_hp6qlFk/WO0kBU9wrQI/AAAAAAAAEJE/Oz8-K155KWcvZLU0zzbDDPNAYwh-MgFYACEw/s1600/Easter%2BHow%2Bto%2BHunt%2Bfor%2BEggs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to Hunt for Eggs is a perfect Easter writing prompt to practice how to writing all in a fun no prep craft - all you do is print and students write, color, cut, and glue for a super easy April bulletin board" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0wN_hp6qlFk/WO0kBU9wrQI/AAAAAAAAEJE/Oz8-K155KWcvZLU0zzbDDPNAYwh-MgFYACEw/s640/Easter%2BHow%2Bto%2BHunt%2Bfor%2BEggs.JPG" title="How to Hunt for Eggs is a perfect Easter writing prompt to practice how to writing all in a fun no prep craft - all you do is print and students write, color, cut, and glue for a super easy April bulletin board" width="480" /></a></div><br />To prepare for this craft, you could have an egg hunt in your classroom where you crumple up center cards for a skill and put them inside plastic eggs. Then, have students go around trying to find them and answer the questions like the Find and Write activities I showed before. You could do this with any center activity that has cards and a recording sheet!<br /><br />I just love Spring! If you read my blog regularly, you also know I have a new behavior chart for every month (as well as other themed ones for fun throughout the year like pirates, circus, under the sea, etc.) so of course <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spring-Behavior-Chart-2476999" target="_blank">I have a Spring one</a>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TATEa78rXUo/WO0kGg2DsGI/AAAAAAAAEJw/xgxFLoCVzAMxKXITOuvwiBIn2T_V4J0twCEw/s1600/Spring%2BBehavior%2BClip%2BChart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Spring behavior chart - I love switching out my clip chart every month to keep it fresh and exciting. Everyone wants to be the Top Frog so it’s a great classroom management strategy :)" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TATEa78rXUo/WO0kGg2DsGI/AAAAAAAAEJw/xgxFLoCVzAMxKXITOuvwiBIn2T_V4J0twCEw/s640/Spring%2BBehavior%2BClip%2BChart.jpg" title="Spring behavior chart - I love switching out my clip chart every month to keep it fresh and exciting. Everyone wants to be the Top Frog so it’s a great classroom management strategy :)" width="480" /></a></div><br />I love switching them out every month. If you want to read about my system and see my other behavior charts, it’s in this post: <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/04/classroom-management-strategies.html" target="_blank">20 Classroom Management Strategies You Can Start Right Away</a><br /><br />Every kiddo will want to be the Top Frog obviously :) But really, kids love trying to get to the top of the chart to get the new certificate (in this case “Top Frog”) to take home to their parents and such!<br /><br />Another fun Spring holiday is Earth Day! Here are some fun ideas for Earth Day that I like to do:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dJIOVMm-q7k/WO0kCv1HeSI/AAAAAAAAEJY/f5KVJkj4B6IRyKGmpsJncHbd4q0euCf8ACEw/s1600/Fun%2BIdeas%2Bfor%2BEarth%2BDay.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fun ideas for Earth Day like this place value puzzle where kids grab a card with base 10 blocks and figure out the number it is and color it in to reveal a fun Spring message! Click this to see a video of it being done… such a fun way to practice number sense!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dJIOVMm-q7k/WO0kCv1HeSI/AAAAAAAAEJY/f5KVJkj4B6IRyKGmpsJncHbd4q0euCf8ACEw/s640/Fun%2BIdeas%2Bfor%2BEarth%2BDay.JPG" title="Fun ideas for Earth Day like this place value puzzle where kids grab a card with base 10 blocks and figure out the number it is and color it in to reveal a fun Spring message! Click this to see a video of it being done… such a fun way to practice number sense!" width="480" /></a></div><br />This <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Earth-Day-Math-Center-Place-Value-100-Chart-Puzzle-1155741" target="_blank">Earth Day Puzzle</a> is another place value activity like the butterfly one above :)<br /><br />Earth Day is a great opportunity to discuss how it’s important to take care of Earth – I also have some <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Earth-Day-Writing-Crafts-Bundle-No-Prep-2482836" target="_blank">Earth Day writing crafts</a> I like to have available in the writing center.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EVe0Nz-lxWk/WO0kBDYLuHI/AAAAAAAAEI8/UfDLO-gQyIY9cyrjNdCrVxJP8LH67cgyACEw/s1600/Earth%2BDay%2Bwriting%2Bcraft.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Earth Day writing activities that are NO PREP! Just print and kids simply write, color, cut, and glue to make a super easy Spring bulletin board to show how they take care of our planet" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EVe0Nz-lxWk/WO0kBDYLuHI/AAAAAAAAEI8/UfDLO-gQyIY9cyrjNdCrVxJP8LH67cgyACEw/s640/Earth%2BDay%2Bwriting%2Bcraft.JPG" title="Earth Day writing activities that are NO PREP! Just print and kids simply write, color, cut, and glue to make a super easy Spring bulletin board to show how they take care of our planet" width="480" /></a></div><br />As well as talk about the importance of recycling! There is a ton of paper used in K-2 so I love to emphasize the importance of recycling whenever possible. We also talk about how we recycle water bottle caps to use in math and literacy centers like my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/06/bottle-cap-cvc-word-building-centers.html" target="_blank">CVC Bottle Caps Word Building</a>&nbsp;and other things we can reuse or recycle.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sDLvCCQwxoo/WO0kAgPLq8I/AAAAAAAAEI0/Pk0VPT7J7fYO6LTqu3EDlVnu943Qe0tfgCEw/s1600/Earth%2BDay%2Brecycling%2Bwriting%2Bcraft%2Bbin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Recycling writing activity that is an easy NO PREP craft! I love these Earth Day writing prompts and ideas for April and May" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sDLvCCQwxoo/WO0kAgPLq8I/AAAAAAAAEI0/Pk0VPT7J7fYO6LTqu3EDlVnu943Qe0tfgCEw/s640/Earth%2BDay%2Brecycling%2Bwriting%2Bcraft%2Bbin.JPG" title="Recycling writing activity that is an easy NO PREP craft! I love these Earth Day writing prompts and ideas for April and May" width="480" /></a></div><br />Anyway! That’s what I have for spring :) I am working on a TON of blog posts right now to show teaching tricks and classroom management strategies that I’m really excited about so make sure you check back! There are a lot of different ways to follow along on the right side (by email, IG, etc.) if you want as well. I’m really excited about them!<br /><br />In the meantime, here are some other blog posts you might like:<br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/10/25-chatty-class-classroom-management.html" target="_blank">Chatty Class Class Management Strategies</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/12/digraphs-activities-for-first-grade-and.html" target="_blank">Digraphs Activities and Ideas</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/03/phonics-fluency-notebooks.html" target="_blank">Phonics Fluency Notebooks</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/03/ew-ue-ui-activities.html" target="_blank">EW UE UI Activities (the ideas can be used for any phonics skill)</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/04/composing-shapes-in-1st-grade.html" target="_blank">Composing Shapes</a> (go to <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/math.html" target="_blank">MATH</a> to see all my math posts)<br /><br />Here are my posts for the other months:<br /><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/january-writing-crafts.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;Droid Sans&quot;; font-size: 15.6px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">January Writing Crafts</a><br style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;Droid Sans&quot;; font-size: 15.6px;" /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/february-writing-prompts.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;Droid Sans&quot;; font-size: 15.6px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">February Writing Crafts</a></span><br /><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2017/02/march-writing-activities-and-bossy-r-activities.html" target="_blank">March Writing Crafts</a><br style="background-color: white;" /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/12/december-writing-crafts.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;Droid Sans&quot;; font-size: 15.6px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">December Writing Crafts</a><br style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;Droid Sans&quot;; font-size: 15.6px;" /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/11/november-writing-crafts.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;Droid Sans&quot;; font-size: 15.6px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">November Writing Crafts</a><br style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;Droid Sans&quot;; font-size: 15.6px;" /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/10/october-writing-crafts-for-kids.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: &quot;Droid Sans&quot;; font-size: 15.6px; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">October Writing Crafts</a></span><br /><br />Thanks for reading! I'd love to hear from you in the comments :)<br /><div><br /></div>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-35314639095110724482017-02-11T17:44:00.000-07:002018-01-26T18:58:22.198-07:00March Writing Activities and Bossy R ActivitiesMarch writing activities are a lot of fun because the topics are exciting - kids love writing about leprechauns, pots of gold, and coming up with wishes of their own! I wanted to show you some of my favorite March writing prompts and some other fun stuff.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T-qPrIiP-uY/WJ-f12X9VVI/AAAAAAAAECA/sfxqq6eovqQO3mOfGTIxtVScmPl45D3wgCLcB/s1600/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BWriting%2BCrafts%2B4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="St. Patrick's Day writing activities that are super easy no prep crafts for March! I absolutely love doing these each month!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T-qPrIiP-uY/WJ-f12X9VVI/AAAAAAAAECA/sfxqq6eovqQO3mOfGTIxtVScmPl45D3wgCLcB/s640/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BWriting%2BCrafts%2B4.JPG" title="St. Patrick's Day writing activities that are super easy no prep crafts for March! I absolutely love doing these each month!" width="480" /></a></div><br />Well, of course I love NO PREP crafts since you simply print them and kids just write, color, cut, and glue. Anything no prep is my favorite. :) I’ve shown you many of my other no prep writing activities by month. I have <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/NO-PREP-Writing-Crafts-BUNDLE-Growing-1854254?aref=kftj7dxd" target="_blank">a massive bundle of them</a> or you can get just the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/St-Patricks-Day-Writing-Crafts-NO-PREP-2444317?aref=cv6pwcin" target="_blank">March Writing crafts</a> I show on this post too!<br /><br />There are just so many creative writing opportunities for March! One of my favorite St. Patrick’s Day writing prompts is “If a Leprechaun Rode the Bus.”<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TgU8e89HRXg/WJ-h05lpXqI/AAAAAAAAECQ/I3bfz-KQUx8-zinmUwKcVgpFmURmpskCwCLcB/s1600/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BWriting%2BCraft%2BLeprechaun%2BBus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="If A Leprechaun Rode the Bus and a bunch of other fun March writing prompts on this post!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TgU8e89HRXg/WJ-h05lpXqI/AAAAAAAAECQ/I3bfz-KQUx8-zinmUwKcVgpFmURmpskCwCLcB/s640/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BWriting%2BCraft%2BLeprechaun%2BBus.JPG" title="If A Leprechaun Rode the Bus and a bunch of other fun March writing prompts on this post!" width="480" /></a></div><br />This one is so fun to brainstorm and think of all the silly things that could happen if a leprechaun rode the bus to school with them.<br /><br />You can also do “If a Leprechaun Came to School” to think of all the fun things a leprechaun would do in class. Would they do math centers with you? Swing on the swings at recess? Leave green footprints by the teacher’s desk? Again, a super fun one to brainstorm then have them write their own stories!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4G5fBxwwmPU/WJ-h8nyv3xI/AAAAAAAAECU/2YEqfgngndkadKUiNyyAuk1YkT0pW4T4wCLcB/s1600/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BWriting%2BCraft%2BLeprechaun%2BSchool.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="If A Leprechaun Came to School and so many other fun March writing prompts for first grade" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4G5fBxwwmPU/WJ-h8nyv3xI/AAAAAAAAECU/2YEqfgngndkadKUiNyyAuk1YkT0pW4T4wCLcB/s640/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BWriting%2BCraft%2BLeprechaun%2BSchool.JPG" title="If A Leprechaun Came to School and so many other fun March writing prompts for first grade" width="480" /></a></div><br />Kids also love to talk about what they’d do with a pot of gold! Have kids imagine they found the pot of gold at the end of a rainbow and imagine what they’d do with it. You may get some funny answers and also heartwarming ones... and then just plain silly.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KB_VJ8bD4yw/WJ-iAoODIpI/AAAAAAAAECY/XemNephQ25ApSVrlTE7j2YoSQfzGclY1QCLcB/s1600/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BWriting%2BCraft%2BIf%2BI%2BHad%2Ba%2BPot%2Bof%2BGold.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="If I Had a Pot of Gold writing activity for first grade - so many great March writing prompts on this post!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KB_VJ8bD4yw/WJ-iAoODIpI/AAAAAAAAECY/XemNephQ25ApSVrlTE7j2YoSQfzGclY1QCLcB/s640/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BWriting%2BCraft%2BIf%2BI%2BHad%2Ba%2BPot%2Bof%2BGold.JPG" title="If I Had a Pot of Gold writing activity for first grade - so many great March writing prompts on this post!" width="480" /></a></div><br />Along the same lines, have kids imagine they caught a leprechaun and were granted 3 wishes! This writing prompt is a GREAT excuse to practice First, Next, Last in their writing to list their 3 wishes.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iNNnY0LYG-k/WJ-iE4OZIMI/AAAAAAAAECc/3xT4tVagKxYGeCFb7V3zLDp4MFCyszzXACLcB/s1600/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BWriting%2BCraft%2BMy%2B3%2BWishes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="My 3 Wishes is a perfect St. Patrick's Day writing prompt to practice first next last in kids' writing" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iNNnY0LYG-k/WJ-iE4OZIMI/AAAAAAAAECc/3xT4tVagKxYGeCFb7V3zLDp4MFCyszzXACLcB/s640/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BWriting%2BCraft%2BMy%2B3%2BWishes.JPG" title="My 3 Wishes is a perfect St. Patrick's Day writing prompt to practice first next last in kids' writing" width="480" /></a></div><br />I try to sneak in specific writing skills like that in my writing no prep packs so that, even though it just looks like crafts, they’re practicing skills in the writing standards.<br /><br />For example, “How to” writing is an important standard so have them write about how to catch a leprechaun!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jMEb2sLY5nU/WJ-jT9H45qI/AAAAAAAAECs/5Zf1kp4Ni8wFSPKAox2exGJbQidL19o9ACLcB/s1600/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BWriting%2BCraft%2BHow%2Bto%2BCatch%2Ba%2BLeprechaun.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to Catch a Leprechaun is a perfect how to writing activity for first grade - click to see all the different writing prompts for March!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jMEb2sLY5nU/WJ-jT9H45qI/AAAAAAAAECs/5Zf1kp4Ni8wFSPKAox2exGJbQidL19o9ACLcB/s640/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BWriting%2BCraft%2BHow%2Bto%2BCatch%2Ba%2BLeprechaun.JPG" title="How to Catch a Leprechaun is a perfect how to writing activity for first grade - click to see all the different writing prompts for March!" width="480" /></a></div><br />You could even do a project where students have to work together to construct a leprechaun trap! This is a really common activity in classrooms for St. Patrick’s Day so if you do a little searching, you’ll find some inspiration!<br /><br />Another writing genre you can practice is nonfiction writing. March is a perfect month for learning about weather and rainbows. Students can then write what they’ve learned about rainbows.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2BG4TGL1eaY/WJ-jaYAMskI/AAAAAAAAECw/ioPa-zuzF_IYKcON_Np5NLsxTBgmzFf-gCLcB/s1600/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BWriting%2BCraft%2BRainbows%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Writing about rainbows is a ton of fun with this no prep March writing activity - click here for a ton of March writing ideas!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2BG4TGL1eaY/WJ-jaYAMskI/AAAAAAAAECw/ioPa-zuzF_IYKcON_Np5NLsxTBgmzFf-gCLcB/s640/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BWriting%2BCraft%2BRainbows%2B1.JPG" title="Writing about rainbows is a ton of fun with this no prep March writing activity - click here for a ton of March writing ideas!" width="480" /></a></div><br />You can also have them write a nonfiction piece about the holiday of St. Patrick’s Day if you want more nonfiction writing practice OR have them write a narrative of how they normally celebrate St. Patrick’s Day using this simple craft.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3_YotJ-Sn-Q/WJ-jfbxSKJI/AAAAAAAAEC0/EyNR1fDUZfIivCe0JQBzMDn5VKOdqKpPgCLcB/s1600/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BWriting%2BCraft%2BHoliday.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="St. Patrick's Day writing activity that makes an easy March bulletin board" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3_YotJ-Sn-Q/WJ-jfbxSKJI/AAAAAAAAEC0/EyNR1fDUZfIivCe0JQBzMDn5VKOdqKpPgCLcB/s640/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BWriting%2BCraft%2BHoliday.JPG" title="St. Patrick's Day writing activity that makes an easy March bulletin board" width="480" /></a></div><br />All of these make really fast and easy St. Patrick’s Day bulletin boards. You could make your bulletin board all the same prompt OR pick each students’ best one from the different prompts to make a really diverse, colorful bulletin board. I love to let kids pick the color construction paper they use as the background so they end up being a really colorful display on a bulletin board like this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-muQGCAmbxRw/WJ-ji1PxstI/AAAAAAAAEC4/6LYgAFDeQd4s8VXBfsSPNzbfvqJYhklgwCLcB/s1600/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BWriting%2BCrafts%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="St. Patrick's Day writing prompts galore! Click to get a bunch of St. Patrick's Day writing ideas!" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-muQGCAmbxRw/WJ-ji1PxstI/AAAAAAAAEC4/6LYgAFDeQd4s8VXBfsSPNzbfvqJYhklgwCLcB/s640/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BWriting%2BCrafts%2B2.JPG" title="St. Patrick's Day writing prompts galore! Click to get a bunch of St. Patrick's Day writing ideas!" width="480" /></a></div><br />That’s actually one of the biggest reasons I created these no prep crafts – keeping up with seasonal bulletin boards used to be such a hassle but having quick writing crafts that look nice <i>and</i>&nbsp;are easy to do&nbsp;has made it so much less stressful.<br /><br />I’m also a perfectionist so I love how they’re on construction paper so I can make them perfectly straight and evenly spaced since they’re all the exact same shape – is that crazy?! :)<br /><br />Another classroom display for March is my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/St-Patricks-Day-Behavior-Chart-2431764" target="_blank">St. Patrick’s Day behavior chart</a>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/St-Patricks-Day-Behavior-Chart-2431764" target="_blank"><img alt="St. Patrick's Day behavior chart - I love how she switches out her behavior charts each month to keep it exciting! This one for March is too cute!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5Yb1OCU0x4M/WJ-jnj1IcUI/AAAAAAAAEC8/deAr9Bt1iU8g5BQw0TT7ZfovxtCHTgisQCLcB/s640/Behavior%2BClip%2BChart%2BSt%2BPatricks%2BDay.jpg" title="St. Patrick's Day behavior chart - I love how she switches out her behavior charts each month to keep it exciting! This one for March is too cute!" width="480" /></a></div><br />I LOVE switching out behavior charts each month (or even more often if you do different themes) to keep it fresh and exciting! As I’m sure you know, a lot of behavior management tricks work great BUT stop working after a bit of time when kids get bored with them. In my opinion, this is the case for behavior clip charts UNLESS you change them regularly! I talk about how I do this on my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/04/classroom-management-strategies.html" target="_blank">20 Classroom Management Strategies You Can Start Right Away post</a> and let me tell you, it’s a game changer!<br /><br />When the chart changes and they’re fun and new with a new goal (this one is to get to the top of the chart to find the pot of gold!), kids get excited to reach the new goal and get the new type of award certificate to show their parents! The colors stay the same so you don’t have to explain the new chart – just switch it out and they’ll freak out excitedly when they come in that morning and see the new one. :) It’s my favorite!<br /><br />Since it’s St. Patrick’s Day and they reached the pot of gold, I love to give out those gold coin chocolates if they reach the top. EEEEEVERYONE wants that chocolate... especially me! :)<br /><br />Speaking of pots of gold, this is the time of year when you’ve taught your kiddos a lot of different phonics sounds and you want to reinforce them. Bossy R sounds (or, ar, er, ir, ur) seem to be especially tricky so I made <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/St-Patricks-Day-Bossy-R-Center-1758963" target="_blank">Bossy R Pot of Gold centers</a> to review those sounds.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JUuJ-ZPAzGo/WJ-kRf-uJPI/AAAAAAAAEDE/CSJEJCW4A0c9obTimc1mJJP12JCYQo0sQCLcB/s1600/Bossy%2BR%2BPot%2Bof%2BGold%2BReading%2BCenter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bossy R center for reading groups where kids sort the gold coins to correct pot of gold for that r controlled vowel. I love these bossy R activities!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JUuJ-ZPAzGo/WJ-kRf-uJPI/AAAAAAAAEDE/CSJEJCW4A0c9obTimc1mJJP12JCYQo0sQCLcB/s640/Bossy%2BR%2BPot%2Bof%2BGold%2BReading%2BCenter.JPG" title="Bossy R center for reading groups where kids sort the gold coins to correct pot of gold for that r controlled vowel. I love these bossy R activities!" width="638" /></a></div><br />Kids simply match the coins with picture words to the R controlled vowel sound pots. It’s great practice because they have to look at the picture, say the word out loud, then match it to the written form of the sound it contains. This is me laminating them with my BFF, Lammy (my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/must-have-classroom-supplies.html" target="_blank">personal laminator</a>). I like to laminate centers at home so I can do it while zoning out watching T.V. :) <br /><br />I also bring back pages to review from my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phonics-No-Prep-Massive-MEGA-Bundle-1701361" target="_blank">Phonics No Prep Packs</a> for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/OR-Worksheets-Activities-NO-PREP-1755261" target="_blank">OR sound</a>, the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/AR-Worksheets-Activities-NO-PREP-1748325" target="_blank">AR sound</a>, and the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/ER-IR-UR-Worksheets-Activities-NO-PREP-1764729" target="_blank">ER IR UR sounds</a>. <br /><br />If you teach R controlled vowels too, I actually have a TON, and I mean A TON, of Bossy R resources – you can see them all by clicking on “Bossy R” on the left hand side of my TpT store which is <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Miss-Giraffe/Category/Bossy-R-185538" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br /><br />This week is also&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bossy-R-Word-Roll-R-Controlled-Vowels-Centers-1565097" target="_blank">Bossy R word rolls</a>!<br /><br />Kids roll the dice to make OR or AR words.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lG49XJUXjtI/WJ-kb8Nja1I/AAAAAAAAEDM/L9C7-tQ6_C4Q7lPZA86YUfOWn2myUtkQgCLcB/s1600/Bossy%2BR%2Bactivity%2Bword%2Broll%2Breading%2Bcenter%2Bfork.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bossy R word roll center that is too much fun. Click for directions!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lG49XJUXjtI/WJ-kb8Nja1I/AAAAAAAAEDM/L9C7-tQ6_C4Q7lPZA86YUfOWn2myUtkQgCLcB/s640/Bossy%2BR%2Bactivity%2Bword%2Broll%2Breading%2Bcenter%2Bfork.JPG" title="Bossy R word roll center that is too much fun. Click for directions!" width="480" /></a></div><br />If they roll a word they see on their mat, they get to color it in!<br /><br />It can also get competitive with the roll and cover type version where partners take turns rolling the dice then covering the picture with THEIR color cube. Whoever gets a full line first wins! :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kg_uRaW6OsY/WJ-lHc9a2PI/AAAAAAAAEDU/BXgz5_6SdCkl58fszxwr_ZvqCfni-VoPwCLcB/s1600/Bossy%2BR%2Bactivity%2Bword%2Broll%2Breading%2Bcenter%2Bshark.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bossy R word roll center that is too much fun. Click for directions!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kg_uRaW6OsY/WJ-lHc9a2PI/AAAAAAAAEDU/BXgz5_6SdCkl58fszxwr_ZvqCfni-VoPwCLcB/s640/Bossy%2BR%2Bactivity%2Bword%2Broll%2Breading%2Bcenter%2Bshark.JPG" title="Bossy R word roll center that is too much fun. Click for directions!" width="480" /></a></div><br />If you want to see more word rolls, check out this post I wrote a few years ago: <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/10/cvc-words-roll.html" target="_blank">CVC Word Rolls</a><br /><br />I also love to bust out the letter bottle caps for the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bossy-R-Words-Bottle-Cap-Centers-R-controlled-vowels-2735328" target="_blank">Bossy R Bottle Cap cards</a>. If you’ve never seen my bottle cap cards, I wrote a blog post showing my CVC ones here: <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/06/bottle-cap-cvc-word-building-centers.html" target="_blank">Bottle Cap CVC Word Building Centers</a>. It shows how the different phonics sets are differentiated and just how to use them in general. Prepare to drink a lot of water! :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nc4LtVkpCwg/WJ-lQequpdI/AAAAAAAAEDY/M1St6LloFrMuC1W8_ykP0RjNC3QKz3CIwCLcB/s1600/Bossy%2BR%2BBottle%2BCap%2BCenters%2Blong.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bossy R bottle cap centers are SO much for practicing reading words with R controlled vowels" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nc4LtVkpCwg/WJ-lQequpdI/AAAAAAAAEDY/M1St6LloFrMuC1W8_ykP0RjNC3QKz3CIwCLcB/s640/Bossy%2BR%2BBottle%2BCap%2BCenters%2Blong.png" title="Bossy R bottle cap centers are SO much for practicing reading words with R controlled vowels" width="318" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I have bottle cap centers sets for all the different phonics sounds since they’re such an easy way to practice.<br /><br />Another weekly activity for each phonics sound is notebooking which I wrote about in my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/03/phonics-fluency-notebooks.html" target="_blank">Phonics Fluency Notebooks post</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j6dPDOBitFo/WJ-mKQj9wNI/AAAAAAAAEDk/BGu32wFvMAMR4bDdOCZVZgX44jxzDOlLwCLcB/s1600/Bossy%2BR%2BOR%2Bsound%2Breading%2Binteractive%2Bnotebook.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="OR sound phonics fluency notebook page for practicing this tricky r controlled vowel sound" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j6dPDOBitFo/WJ-mKQj9wNI/AAAAAAAAEDk/BGu32wFvMAMR4bDdOCZVZgX44jxzDOlLwCLcB/s640/Bossy%2BR%2BOR%2Bsound%2Breading%2Binteractive%2Bnotebook.JPG" title="OR sound phonics fluency notebook page for practicing this tricky r controlled vowel sound" width="480" /></a></div><br />Whatever sound you’re working on, kids take the puzzle (the pictures are out of order) and read the reading passage. Then, they highlight the words with the phonics sound you’re focusing on (in this case: OR). Next, they sequence the events of the story by putting the pictures in order to complete the puzzle. Last, they read the puzzle again and write down the highlighted words at the bottom. You can also have them read their completed puzzles and compare with a friend!<br /><br />Anyway! I could go on and on about bossy R activities – I love teaching phonics.<br /><br />Back to St. Patrick’s Day :)<br /><br />To incorporate math and <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/07/building-number-sense-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">number sense</a> into my St. Patrick’s Day activities, I do this <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/St-Patricks-Day-Math-Center-Place-Value-100-Chart-Puzzle-1076241" target="_blank">St. Patrick’s Day Place Value Puzzle</a>:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5tprRDNtVwk/WJ-mT82_EfI/AAAAAAAAEDo/Mg_y_Sf3N2QTz_zWkQkBSE6R-B4spVwdwCLcB/s1600/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BPlace%2BValue%2BPuzzle%2BLeprechaun.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="St. Patrick's Day math center where kids look at the number cards to reveal a picture of a leprechaun with a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow... SUCH a fun puzzle" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5tprRDNtVwk/WJ-mT82_EfI/AAAAAAAAEDo/Mg_y_Sf3N2QTz_zWkQkBSE6R-B4spVwdwCLcB/s640/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BPlace%2BValue%2BPuzzle%2BLeprechaun.JPG" title="St. Patrick's Day math center where kids look at the number cards to reveal a picture of a leprechaun with a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow... SUCH a fun puzzle" width="480" /></a></div><br />Kids get a blank 100 chart and a stack of base 10 cards. You can see them on the left hand side of the above picture. They look at the base 10 blocks on each card and figure out what number it is. Then, they color that number the color of the card on their 100 chart to reveal a picture!<br /><br />I also recently added number cards to <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Place-Value-100-Chart-Puzzles-BUNDLE-2515243" target="_blank">all my 100 Chart Puzzles</a> too which you can see on the right hand side of the picture above. You can do either the base 10 cards OR the number cards OR mix &amp; match them if you wish. There's a full set of each so you can use them however you wish.<br /><br />In order to keep the cards together, I laminate the cards and put them on a binder ring so they’re an easy grab and go center. I showed an example with my butterfly place value on my Instagram here:<br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BEgp9mJw0-N/?taken-by=missgiraffesclass" target="_blank">Butterfly 100 Chart Video</a><br /><br />I love using binder rings for all sorts of things – to see the binder rings I use, they’re on this post with some other fun things:<br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/must-have-classroom-supplies.html" target="_blank">Must Have Classroom Supplies</a><br /><br />One more fun <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/St-Patricks-Day-Writing-Crafts-NO-PREP-2444317" target="_blank">March Writing Craft</a>! If I Were a Leprechaun!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VviwrNxvJcs/WJ-ilsyclSI/AAAAAAAAECk/ln7xW8jSnhgeIMb9lu-zJweRGjhvVPqZQCLcB/s1600/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BWriting%2BCraft%2BIf%2BI%2BWere%2Ba%2BLeprechaun.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="If I Were a Leprechaun writing prompt that makes the cutest no prep craft for a March bulletin board" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VviwrNxvJcs/WJ-ilsyclSI/AAAAAAAAECk/ln7xW8jSnhgeIMb9lu-zJweRGjhvVPqZQCLcB/s640/St%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BWriting%2BCraft%2BIf%2BI%2BWere%2Ba%2BLeprechaun.JPG" title="If I Were a Leprechaun writing prompt that makes the cutest no prep craft for a March bulletin board" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />You can get all the writing crafts I showed in <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/St-Patricks-Day-Writing-Crafts-NO-PREP-2444317" target="_blank">this pack</a>:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/St-Patricks-Day-Writing-Crafts-NO-PREP-2444317" target="_blank"><img alt="St. Patrick's Day writing activities that are no prep, easy, and fun - click to see examples to get a ton of writing ideas for March!" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MBYPyNLGQ5U/WJ-iZ-mhC-I/AAAAAAAAECg/damF2z9M7GQRjBC8EzbKZ1KXiQzH4T5UgCLcB/s640/NP%2BWriting%2BSt%2BPatricks%2BDay%2Bcover.jpg" title="St. Patrick's Day writing activities that are no prep, easy, and fun - click to see examples to get a ton of writing ideas for March!" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />I hope you enjoyed seeing some of the St. Patrick’s Day activities I do for March! If you want to check out my writing activities for other months, check out these posts:<br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/january-writing-crafts.html">January Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/february-writing-prompts.html" target="_blank">February Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2017/04/april-writing-activities-and-fun-spring.html" target="_blank">April Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/12/december-writing-crafts.html">December Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/11/november-writing-crafts.html">November Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/10/october-writing-crafts-for-kids.html">October Writing Crafts</a><br /><br /><br />I am crafting a bunch of blog posts coming up of awesome teacher tips and tricks so make sure you are following this blog! If you go to the right hand side of this page, you can sign up in 2 different places to get emails from me AND to have my blog posts emailed to you – make sure you sign up for both! :)<br /><br />You can also follow me on Pinterest:<br /><a data-pin-board-width="400" data-pin-do="embedUser" data-pin-scale-height="240" data-pin-scale-width="80" href="https://www.pinterest.com/themissgiraffe"></a><br /><br />Thank you so much for reading!<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wr9r-ApE4o4/WmvcihyjOII/AAAAAAAAGfA/Y8dyDNoPvaoGiBoqCcbJZgXDQBEfuSDkACLcBGAs/s1600/March%2BWriting%2BPrompts%2BWriting%2BActivities%2BSt%2BPatricks%2BDay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="March writing prompts for fun March writing activities for St Patricks Day including How to Catch a Leprechaun, If A Leprechaun Rode the Bus, If I had a Pot of Gold, and so many more fun ideas!" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="576" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wr9r-ApE4o4/WmvcihyjOII/AAAAAAAAGfA/Y8dyDNoPvaoGiBoqCcbJZgXDQBEfuSDkACLcBGAs/s640/March%2BWriting%2BPrompts%2BWriting%2BActivities%2BSt%2BPatricks%2BDay.jpg" title="March writing prompts for fun March writing activities for St Patricks Day including How to Catch a Leprechaun, If A Leprechaun Rode the Bus, If I had a Pot of Gold, and so many more fun ideas!" width="384" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-72969378177688916202016-12-15T17:05:00.003-07:002016-12-15T17:45:53.482-07:00Digraphs Activities for First Grade and KindergartenHi friends! I'd love to show you my favorite digraphs activities for first grade and kindergarten that you can use to teach those tricky digraphs. Digraphs can be difficult, especially for English language learners, but they can also be a lot of fun!<br /><br />I really think the key to teaching digraphs is picture support. My activities include a ton of visuals to go along with the words to help reading easier. <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digraphs-Words-Bottle-Cap-Centers-2744065" target="_blank">Bottle cap centers</a> are great for this because they are hands on and you can start your small group out at their level since the cards are differentiated for all different levels.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SW_HbIKV4fs/WFL_4SgCrJI/AAAAAAAAD0c/0Q2rCtLqsPUVPMsIPqJ_lS7i7MSrhX9wACLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BBottle%2BCap%2BCenters%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs centers using bottle caps and other fun digraphs activities for first grade or kindergarten!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SW_HbIKV4fs/WFL_4SgCrJI/AAAAAAAAD0c/0Q2rCtLqsPUVPMsIPqJ_lS7i7MSrhX9wACLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BBottle%2BCap%2BCenters%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Digraphs centers using bottle caps and other fun digraphs activities for first grade or kindergarten!" width="480" /></a></div><br />For example, this set of cards (above) is missing the vowel sound so kids don't have to actually know the digraphs perfectly to complete them but are getting a lot of practice and exposure to them when they look at the picture and say the word out loud to figure out the missing vowel sound. As they say the word out loud, they are also saying that digraph that is written in front of them. Even though they might not know the digraphs, it's still a center they can complete <i>without</i> knowing the digraph sounds yet because they DO know their vowel sounds. It's also great vowel sounds review so you're practicing a lot of things.<br /><br />For students who typically need more reading practice than others, you can have them put the bottle caps on top of the letters already there, too, to really hammer in the spelling of the focus sound. All of the digraphs cards also come in an "all letters" format where all the letters are already there so they can simply match the letters to spell each word so those are great for the students who really struggle.<br /><br />You can also have them do the set that is missing the non-digraph consonant(s) part of the word like these:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KQSQ0Jc7FbI/WFMBe9hoxoI/AAAAAAAAD0k/bVIqD__TRZE0J9ukpOPQ0QGBfB-7s7y8ACLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BBottle%2BCap%2BCenters%2B%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs centers using bottle caps and other fun digraphs activities for first grade or kindergarten!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KQSQ0Jc7FbI/WFMBe9hoxoI/AAAAAAAAD0k/bVIqD__TRZE0J9ukpOPQ0QGBfB-7s7y8ACLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BBottle%2BCap%2BCenters%2B%25284%2529.JPG" title="Digraphs centers using bottle caps and other fun digraphs activities for first grade or kindergarten!" width="480" /></a></div><br />I love to use this type for blending with the digraph. They would look at the picture of the boy's chin and have to blend CHI to figure out that it ends in N. This is a tad bit more advanced but will really get them starting to read those digraphs.<br /><br />My <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digraphs-Words-Bottle-Cap-Centers-2744065" target="_blank">digraphs bottle cap centers</a>&nbsp;also include versions of every card where there are NO letters to completely build the word, cards where <i>only </i>the vowel sound is there ( _ i _ _ for fish, for example), and cards where the digraph is missing like these:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4am9MHTTFxM/WFMC8lb5zKI/AAAAAAAAD0s/Yth-DAgzPAcj1rM_ehaoVOlzNzFYKWYdwCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BBottle%2BCap%2BCenters%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs centers using bottle caps and other fun digraphs activities for first grade or kindergarten!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4am9MHTTFxM/WFMC8lb5zKI/AAAAAAAAD0s/Yth-DAgzPAcj1rM_ehaoVOlzNzFYKWYdwCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BBottle%2BCap%2BCenters%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="Digraphs centers using bottle caps and other fun digraphs activities for first grade or kindergarten!" width="480" /></a></div><br />So there are 6 different kinds of each card. :) I just love using recycled bottle caps for centers. You may remember them from my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/06/bottle-cap-cvc-word-building-centers.html" target="_blank">CVC Words Bottle Cap Centers</a> post or how I use them for my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/09/secret-sight-words-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Secret Sight Words</a> center. I also have a bundle of different&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bottle-Cap-Math-Centers-GROWING-BUNDLE-2702808" target="_blank">math bottle cap centers</a>. They're so nice to have because not only are bottle caps free but they're a classroom manipulative you can make as many of as you need! They're hands on and fun so kids love them and they're easy to prep - just throw the ones kids need in a baggie with the cards and it's even self-checking.<br /><br />Speaking of Secret Sight Words, I made a bunch of different packs of Secret Word centers for all of the different phonics sounds too and <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Secret-Words-Digraphs-2266091" target="_blank">one of the packs is just for digraphs</a>!<br /><br />For my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Secret-Words-BUNDLE-2316012" target="_blank">Secret Word activities</a>, kids look at each picture to figure out its beginning sound then place the letter underneath it. You can use bottle caps or alphabet magnets. (I <i>love</i>&nbsp;my alphabet magnets by the way - you can see where I&nbsp;<a href="http://www.teacherslovelists.com/best-teacher-tools/reading-must-haves/" target="_blank">get them here</a>)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_PCRGvlbm_M/WFMEjN9Bs1I/AAAAAAAAD00/spEmiN3seEUhSN9m_42vAa7al7RGUurIwCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BCenter%2BSecret%2BWords%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Secret Digraphs is such a fun way to practice digraphs AND beginning sounds with this word mystery activity!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_PCRGvlbm_M/WFMEjN9Bs1I/AAAAAAAAD00/spEmiN3seEUhSN9m_42vAa7al7RGUurIwCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BCenter%2BSecret%2BWords%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Secret Digraphs is such a fun way to practice digraphs AND beginning sounds with this word mystery activity!" width="480" /></a></div>&nbsp; <br />Kids love these because they're mysterious and they get to figure out the "secret word" - make sure you tell them to keep it a secret so they don't spoil the card for their friends (they actually get a kick out of this). It's a lot of practice for the sound you're learning as well as for beginning sounds. I always like to combine learning skills when I can.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aDMJR0mUrp4/WFME8qp8MDI/AAAAAAAAD08/mU7GmnscxTYXrlHJZd1xXFpVpadI8tbRwCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BCenter%2BSecret%2BWords%2B%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs activities for first grade and kindergarten that are so much fun - check these out!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aDMJR0mUrp4/WFME8qp8MDI/AAAAAAAAD08/mU7GmnscxTYXrlHJZd1xXFpVpadI8tbRwCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BCenter%2BSecret%2BWords%2B%25286%2529.JPG" title="Digraphs activities for first grade and kindergarten that are so much fun - check these out!" width="480" /></a></div><br />For your <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/03/how-to-keep-gifted-students-engaged-and.html" target="_blank">high kids</a> and fast finishers, I recommend introducing a fun, completely new concept like American Sign Language to your reading centers! The <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sign-Language-Secret-Digraphs-2316098" target="_blank">Secret Sign Language Digraphs cards</a> are an easy thing to throw in a baggie for them to do when they're done with center work. They're a lot like the Secret Words but kids are learning the sign language alphabet to do them. Each of my sign language phonics packs comes with <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/American-Sign-Language-Alphabet-Chart-1456065" target="_blank">a sign language alphabet chart</a> so your kids can do the activity independently.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7IwpTwigacU/WFMGFP0vygI/AAAAAAAAD1E/jKqU5dPJwBs-lkqCsVfFTL7avtzvCewBwCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BCenter%2BSecret%2BSign%2BLanguage%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs activities and centers that are so much fun - this one has kids use the sign language alphabet to figure out mystery words! " border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7IwpTwigacU/WFMGFP0vygI/AAAAAAAAD1E/jKqU5dPJwBs-lkqCsVfFTL7avtzvCewBwCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BCenter%2BSecret%2BSign%2BLanguage%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Digraphs activities and centers that are so much fun - this one has kids use the sign language alphabet to figure out mystery words! " width="480" /></a></div><br />Word building with activities like these are a great way to solidify the spelling of digraphs for students so they see how C and H together say /ch/, S and H together say /sh/, etc.<br /><br />Another great place for word building is in the pocket chart center!<br /><br />I have A LOT of picture word cards for each digraph that I love as pocket chart centers to build words, sort words, etc. I have these for almost every phonics sound&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phonics-Pocket-Chart-Centers-BUNDLE-2357636?aref=i1eib798&amp;aref=jtt14ovr" target="_blank">in a big bundle</a>&nbsp;so it's a great yearlong literacy station for word work. I also have them in individual sets like just <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/SH-Pocket-Chart-Centers-and-Materials-2223228" target="_blank">SH words</a>, just <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/TH-Pocket-Chart-Centers-and-Materials-2223258" target="_blank">TH words</a>, just <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/CH-Pocket-Chart-Centers-and-Materials-2225018" target="_blank">CH words</a>, and a set of <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/WH-QU-and-PH-Pocket-Chart-Centers-and-Materials-2232687" target="_blank">WH QU PH words</a>.<br /><br />So let's say you learn the TH digraph first. Give them the cards where the word ends in TH and have them use the alphabet letter cards (they come with each sounds pack) to spell them out. The words are on the picture cards so they look at them to spell the word. As they look at each picture, say the word, and spell it out, they're really cementing that sound.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LfTNunXrWUk/WFMHf1EOqAI/AAAAAAAAD1U/3bvl2xfaXdIVtmnXA9u4y9lavXOBBg6eACLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BPC%2B-%2B%2BTH%2Bspell%2Bend.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs cards to practice spelling words with the TH sound and other fun digraphs activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LfTNunXrWUk/WFMHf1EOqAI/AAAAAAAAD1U/3bvl2xfaXdIVtmnXA9u4y9lavXOBBg6eACLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BPC%2B-%2B%2BTH%2Bspell%2Bend.JPG" title="Digraphs cards to practice spelling words with the TH sound and other fun digraphs activities" width="480" /></a></div><br />You can also cut the words off the bottom (I leave space between the picture/word so you can do that easily) so they have to figure out how to spell the word but I don't recommend you start that way. Letting them copy the correct spelling will help them learn the sound and see how the words are spelled.<br /><br />If you did want to make it a challenging center, you could save the little word strips you cut off and put them in a baggie for them to check (and correct) their work after they're done attempting spelling them independently.<br /><br />Once they've spelled the words that END in TH, give them cards where the word STARTS with TH to spell.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8T0DG-NLkpA/WFMKL7HVbRI/AAAAAAAAD1c/5hW8TstgFk8ZjeBwIwUcFTSmIK9aryTlgCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BPC%2B-%2B%2BTH%2Bspell%2Bstart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs cards to practice spelling words with the TH sound and other fun digraphs activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8T0DG-NLkpA/WFMKL7HVbRI/AAAAAAAAD1c/5hW8TstgFk8ZjeBwIwUcFTSmIK9aryTlgCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BPC%2B-%2B%2BTH%2Bspell%2Bstart.JPG" title="Digraphs cards to practice spelling words with the TH sound and other fun digraphs activities" width="480" /></a></div><br />Then, once they've had practice spelling the words, you can also have them sort WHERE the sound comes in the word. Does the TH happen at the start of the word or at the end of the word?<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kNugFnDyOq4/WFMKe4RxeAI/AAAAAAAAD1g/2p-N-1QLAsUQZv4luoTGmiqMuekTkC9ygCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BPC%2B-%2B%2BTH%2BStart%2BEnd.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs sort where kids sort words that start with the TH sound or end with the TH sound and more fun ideas on this post!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kNugFnDyOq4/WFMKe4RxeAI/AAAAAAAAD1g/2p-N-1QLAsUQZv4luoTGmiqMuekTkC9ygCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BPC%2B-%2B%2BTH%2BStart%2BEnd.JPG" title="Digraphs sort where kids sort words that start with the TH sound or end with the TH sound and more fun ideas on this post!" width="480" /></a></div><br />This is a lot of great phonics practice because they'll be saying a lot of TH words out loud to figure out if the TH comes at the beginning or end of the word.<br /><br />For your high kids, add in the TH in the middle cards!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OHRbIdfFCTM/WFMKweyXkHI/AAAAAAAAD1k/tOQC2HbdbHglWVzbK4tJv7RBBiF_M4fGgCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BPC%2B-%2B%2BTH%2BStart%2BEnd%2BMiddle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs activities galore for reading centers - check all these fun digraphs centers out" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OHRbIdfFCTM/WFMKweyXkHI/AAAAAAAAD1k/tOQC2HbdbHglWVzbK4tJv7RBBiF_M4fGgCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BPC%2B-%2B%2BTH%2BStart%2BEnd%2BMiddle.JPG" title="Digraphs activities galore for reading centers - check all these fun digraphs centers out" width="480" /></a></div><br />As you can see, a lot of differentiation can be done with the pocket chart cards. I showed a lot of different ways I use the picture cards in my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/09/short-activities-and-resources.html" target="_blank">Short A activities</a> post if you want to see more ways to use these.<br /><br />One of the ways, I'll just share really quick, is to give kids a stack of the cards and have them stamp them! Kids love stamping with <a href="http://www.teacherslovelists.com/best-teacher-tools/reading-must-haves/" target="_blank">these alphabet stamps</a> and it's an easy center you don't have to do any prep work for.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZRl_qw8vfA/WFMLb0AQJdI/AAAAAAAAD1s/PXAYVtuznacI4Lz4Ad5xqmLRyZhlUpYWwCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BStamping.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Use alphabet stamps to stamp digraphs words and more fun word work ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZRl_qw8vfA/WFMLb0AQJdI/AAAAAAAAD1s/PXAYVtuznacI4Lz4Ad5xqmLRyZhlUpYWwCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BStamping.JPG" title="Use alphabet stamps to stamp digraphs words and more fun word work ideas" width="480" /></a></div><br />My favorite way to actually teach the phonics sounds, though, is with my phonics no prep packs. You can <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/literacy.html" target="_blank">check out all the sounds I have here</a>. The following pages I'm about to show are from the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digraphs-SH-TH-Worksheets-and-Activities-NO-PREP-1494743" target="_blank">SH and TH pack</a>, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digraphs-CH-Worksheets-and-Activities-NO-PREP-1555803" target="_blank">CH pack</a>, and <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/WH-Worksheets-Activities-NO-PREP-2069999" target="_blank">WH pack</a>.<br /><br />I created these big worksheet packs because I wanted FUN, engaging phonics classwork that could just be printed and immediately used with kids. These are no prep whatsoever and kids really love the activities. They're a lot of practice but don't feel like worksheets. Plus, I keep the activities the same throughout the different sound packs so you only have to explain the directions once! Each week, when the phonics sound changes, kids already know what to do for each center and can get right to work without the teacher saying a word. Isn't that just the dream?! :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6qviAkORihk/WFMNGXbv19I/AAAAAAAAD14/ULfEzr8XoZEfgDJgvSuZ9_4JY-Hac_7ZgCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BPic%2BWord%2BMatch%2BCP%2BTH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs worksheets and activities that practice the TH sound in hands on fun ways" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6qviAkORihk/WFMNGXbv19I/AAAAAAAAD14/ULfEzr8XoZEfgDJgvSuZ9_4JY-Hac_7ZgCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BPic%2BWord%2BMatch%2BCP%2BTH.JPG" title="Digraphs worksheets and activities that practice the TH sound in hands on fun ways" width="480" /></a></div>&nbsp;&nbsp; <br />The packs are differentiated so you have something for all your learners for the phonics sound. There are a lot of pictures for support like the above activity where they color the picture and match it to the word. Again, the activities repeat so the above picture is from the TH pack and the one below is from the WH pack - same activity but focusing on a different sound so kids can focus on doing the activity, not <i>how</i>&nbsp;to do the activity. :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xhvIb-kQht0/WFMN7siMycI/AAAAAAAAD2A/z5JbJ7RQUGw0axcOfVhTxfMMQeVNRmXQACLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BPic%2BWord%2BMatch%2BWH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs worksheets and activities that practice the WH digraph sound in hands on fun ways" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xhvIb-kQht0/WFMN7siMycI/AAAAAAAAD2A/z5JbJ7RQUGw0axcOfVhTxfMMQeVNRmXQACLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BPic%2BWord%2BMatch%2BWH.JPG" title="Digraphs worksheets and activities that practice the WH digraph sound in hands on fun ways" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />One of my favorite activities from the packs are the Circle &amp; Sort pages. You can start kids off with word families like whether the SH word is an -ish word or -ash word for a lot of reading practice. Have kids circle the 2 kinds in a different color then write them below. These are also great to have them read to (or with) a friend when they're done.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lAhr8fIgllI/WFMNnFv_h_I/AAAAAAAAD18/ql6lbpXh0dQ82XgL6OqdFAXraTYZmNU4QCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2BCircle%2Band%2BSort%2BWords%2B%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Amazing digraph word work activities to help kids learn how to read words with consonant digraphs" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lAhr8fIgllI/WFMNnFv_h_I/AAAAAAAAD18/ql6lbpXh0dQ82XgL6OqdFAXraTYZmNU4QCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2BCircle%2Band%2BSort%2BWords%2B%25285%2529.JPG" title="Amazing digraph word work activities to help kids learn how to read words with consonant digraphs" width="480" /></a></div><br />You could also have them circle &amp; sort whether the word <i>ends</i>&nbsp;with&nbsp;SH or <i>starts</i> with&nbsp;SH.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ndy4lMuoSHE/WFMOlisM8SI/AAAAAAAAD2I/zqt78mSsR7IL0qJxAABrZXKUKqR-Ta1xACLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2BCircle%2Band%2BSort%2BWords%2B%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraph word sort worksheets and so many great digraphs worksheets and activities to help kids read" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ndy4lMuoSHE/WFMOlisM8SI/AAAAAAAAD2I/zqt78mSsR7IL0qJxAABrZXKUKqR-Ta1xACLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2BCircle%2Band%2BSort%2BWords%2B%25286%2529.JPG" title="Digraph word sort worksheets and so many great digraphs worksheets and activities to help kids read" width="480" /></a></div><br />Once they really have it down, or for your high kids, you can also mix in another digraph to sort. For example, sorting whether the words have the SH sound or CH sound.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2bAGVCDlllo/WFMO3cFmorI/AAAAAAAAD2M/K7ELvPHjR80qSbmpjuL4GaGL-jHdwhcIwCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2BCircle%2Band%2BSort%2BWords%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraph word sort worksheets and so many great digraphs worksheets and activities to help kids read" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2bAGVCDlllo/WFMO3cFmorI/AAAAAAAAD2M/K7ELvPHjR80qSbmpjuL4GaGL-jHdwhcIwCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2BCircle%2Band%2BSort%2BWords%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Digraph word sort worksheets and so many great digraphs worksheets and activities to help kids read" width="480" /></a></div><br />Like I said, I do the same type of activities for every phonics pack so there are a lot of different kinds of these as well as for all the different sounds. I love phonics, can you tell? :)<br /><br />Another activity that puts the digraphs words in sentences are the "I Love to Read" activities. For these, kids read the sentence and match the picture that represents the sentence.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QyXQsn_di3E/WFMPeWPGSrI/AAAAAAAAD2Q/sD0CSCWlSUAc5yFwjX460WSak-X6_64gQCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BLove%2Bto%2BRead%2BSH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teaching digraphs in first grade is fun with these digraphs worksheets and activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QyXQsn_di3E/WFMPeWPGSrI/AAAAAAAAD2Q/sD0CSCWlSUAc5yFwjX460WSak-X6_64gQCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BLove%2Bto%2BRead%2BSH.JPG" title="Teaching digraphs in first grade is fun with these digraphs worksheets and activities" width="480" /></a></div><br />I like to also highlight, underline, or circle the words with the focus sound for added practice.<br /><br />As you can see below, they highlighted the words with the TH sound to help them read it better then matched the correct picture.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-en-tAD5dqNs/WFMPuSWsR5I/AAAAAAAAD2U/22NEXobfF44ZXQyPRi0uZJRtI8SGNgZQACLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BLove%2Bto%2BRead%2BTH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teaching digraphs in first grade is fun with these digraphs worksheets and activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-en-tAD5dqNs/WFMPuSWsR5I/AAAAAAAAD2U/22NEXobfF44ZXQyPRi0uZJRtI8SGNgZQACLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BLove%2Bto%2BRead%2BTH.JPG" title="Teaching digraphs in first grade is fun with these digraphs worksheets and activities" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />For kids who are REALLY ready for sentences... they will love A-maze-ing Sentences! This is always a favorite because it's a mystery. Have your kids read the digraph words to color their way through the maze to figure out the secret sentence.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F0jNJkpgTAc/WFMQkEhyhVI/AAAAAAAAD2Y/SdXEDkO1JJAH40c05uQrQbTgAUOky9fjQCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2BAmazeing%2BSentences%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A-maze-ing sentences are such a fun way to practice digraphs! Check out all these fun digraphs worksheets and activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F0jNJkpgTAc/WFMQkEhyhVI/AAAAAAAAD2Y/SdXEDkO1JJAH40c05uQrQbTgAUOky9fjQCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2BAmazeing%2BSentences%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="A-maze-ing sentences are such a fun way to practice digraphs! Check out all these fun digraphs worksheets and activities" width="480" /></a></div><br />So fun, right?! This one is from the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digraphs-SH-TH-Worksheets-and-Activities-NO-PREP-1494743" target="_blank">SH and TH pack</a> so most of the words in the boxes, even the ones they don't use, are going to be SH words for as much practice packed in as possible!<br /><br />See how this one is focused on the TH sound so most of the words in the boxes have TH? Tricky, tricky teacher :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vdb-UPHoq_E/WFMQ9VhU4bI/AAAAAAAAD2c/3fSL1LaWtKg7IW3AHHYgpeNrohBRmkiBQCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2BAmazeing%2BSentences%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A-maze-ing sentences are such a fun way to practice digraphs! Check out all these fun digraphs worksheets and activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Vdb-UPHoq_E/WFMQ9VhU4bI/AAAAAAAAD2c/3fSL1LaWtKg7IW3AHHYgpeNrohBRmkiBQCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2BAmazeing%2BSentences%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="A-maze-ing sentences are such a fun way to practice digraphs! Check out all these fun digraphs worksheets and activities" width="480" /></a></div><br />Most of your kids will looove these but you may have a few that need to start at the word level before tackling sentences... enter Secret Word worksheets!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZA-qMzjqhsA/WFMRVDU4SMI/AAAAAAAAD2g/mCN8V9BwJ-0hp5mcgQXH7eUy1Dzhkl0ZwCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BSecret%2BWord%2BSH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Secret Word and so many other fun digraphs worksheets and digraphs activities that make reading fun" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZA-qMzjqhsA/WFMRVDU4SMI/AAAAAAAAD2g/mCN8V9BwJ-0hp5mcgQXH7eUy1Dzhkl0ZwCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BSecret%2BWord%2BSH.JPG" title="Secret Word and so many other fun digraphs worksheets and digraphs activities that make reading fun" width="480" /></a></div><br />These are another favorite mystery activity of all kids but they're especially great for your kids who are still at the individual word level to feel smart (because they are!) when they figure them out.<br /><br />For these, kids look at the picture and color it then build it with the letters they cut out (and write it). BUT FOR THE FOURTH BOX... dun dun dunnnn... it's empty! So they use the letters they have left over to unscramble them and figure out the secret word. Once they figure it out, they draw the picture for it. Kids love figuring out what the secret word is! Just like for the secret word cards, make sure you tell them to keep the secret! :) They'll be really excited to tell you though so be prepared for them to whisper it in your ear if you let them!<br /><br />For your kids who are still at the word level, there is a lot of practice for them like straightforward "Write the Word" worksheets.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-em2PlHKNcxI/WFMSJaPQMhI/AAAAAAAAD2k/_lGT_SXh4To1lmb7auGhRJnFSzaszgTpQCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BWrite%2Bthe%2BWord%2BCH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="CH worksheets and so many fun digraphs activities for first grade or kindergarten" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-em2PlHKNcxI/WFMSJaPQMhI/AAAAAAAAD2k/_lGT_SXh4To1lmb7auGhRJnFSzaszgTpQCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BWrite%2Bthe%2BWord%2BCH.JPG" title="CH worksheets and so many fun digraphs activities for first grade or kindergarten" width="480" /></a></div>&nbsp; <br />These are great for that explicit practice of words with the sound for everyone to do. I also love them for homework so parents see the types of words you're learning.<br /><br />A fun twist on "Write the Word" though is to put it in a crossword format! Your high kids will eat this up but all the kids love it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aCJZxma-vbU/WFMTK_oM3yI/AAAAAAAAD2o/uhSbDiuZDFgOFnYymlH4p1wxHiUSsBgMQCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BCrossword.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="CH worksheets and so many fun digraphs activities for first grade or kindergarten" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aCJZxma-vbU/WFMTK_oM3yI/AAAAAAAAD2o/uhSbDiuZDFgOFnYymlH4p1wxHiUSsBgMQCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BCrossword.JPG" title="CH worksheets and so many fun digraphs activities for first grade or kindergarten" width="480" /></a></div><br />They're doing the same amount of work (actually 1 word less with this example!) and the same complexity of work (look at the picture, write the word) but the crossword format makes it look like a game. Score!<br /><br />Any time you can make reading seem like a game, that's a win in my eyes! A really fun game from the no prep packs that does this is Spin a Word!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X7oV3zFFa0c/WFMT51HoDdI/AAAAAAAAD2s/1CeVip_I2xE9shxYhrl-Ty7j8A5-MG94wCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BSpin%2Ba%2BWord%2BSH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Spin a Word and so many other fun digraphs centers that are no prep and fun" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X7oV3zFFa0c/WFMT51HoDdI/AAAAAAAAD2s/1CeVip_I2xE9shxYhrl-Ty7j8A5-MG94wCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BSpin%2Ba%2BWord%2BSH.JPG" title="Spin a Word and so many other fun digraphs centers that are no prep and fun" width="480" /></a></div><br />For this activity, kids use a pencil and a paperclip to spin. Whatever they land on, they add it to the next line. If it makes a real word, they circle it. They want to make as many real words as possible! This is a super fun game to play with a partner - whoever gets the most circles wins, plus it keeps them accountable for reading if each spin is really a real word or not; if winning a game is at stake, trust me they'll be blending those words to try to get a circle. :)<br /><br />It's great to practice making words with different word families with the focus sound.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1ud-Dxd2vRo/WFMUzsBWL4I/AAAAAAAAD20/K0EQTTMBSjYBBxqnxn0bsH8QvGIr-3kzwCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BSpin%2Ba%2BWord%2BCH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Spin a Word and so many other fun digraphs centers that are no prep and fun" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1ud-Dxd2vRo/WFMUzsBWL4I/AAAAAAAAD20/K0EQTTMBSjYBBxqnxn0bsH8QvGIr-3kzwCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BSpin%2Ba%2BWord%2BCH.JPG" title="Spin a Word and so many other fun digraphs centers that are no prep and fun" width="480" /></a></div><br />It's also great for putting at the beginning of words too! Once your kids have learned all the digraphs, let them do the Spin A Word for digraphs review.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iUUwdiTqh-g/WFMVYxnibPI/AAAAAAAAD28/HHxziEKTFR4uo-Rh9vUwICL7orDTPmD0gCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BSpin%2Ba%2BWord%2Ball%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Spin a Word and so many other fun digraphs centers that are no prep and fun" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iUUwdiTqh-g/WFMVYxnibPI/AAAAAAAAD28/HHxziEKTFR4uo-Rh9vUwICL7orDTPmD0gCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BSpin%2Ba%2BWord%2Ball%2B2.JPG" title="Spin a Word and so many other fun digraphs centers that are no prep and fun" width="480" /></a></div><br />I like to do A LOT of activities that differentiate between the digraphs. It's really easy to mix them up so the more activities you can do to solidy S and H together says shhh, C and H together says chhh, etc., the better.<br /><br />These worksheets are really easy for practicing differentiating between the digraphs:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gFo3aQvCaDM/WFMa2lb-J7I/AAAAAAAAD3Q/vu1oWvSnId07mwmd5-Ym-CpZCh-aGkCmwCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BCH%2BWH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reading digraphs is so fun with these hands on digraphs activities - save this!! " border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gFo3aQvCaDM/WFMa2lb-J7I/AAAAAAAAD3Q/vu1oWvSnId07mwmd5-Ym-CpZCh-aGkCmwCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BCH%2BWH.JPG" title="Reading digraphs is so fun with these hands on digraphs activities - save this!! " width="480" /></a></div><br />Kids simply look at the picture, say the word <b>out loud</b>, then circle which sound the word has. They can also color the pictures when they're done like this example if you want them to.<br /><br />Definitely do a lot of practice differentiating between SH and CH. A lot of kids, especially English language learners, struggle with mixing up those 2 sounds.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kzjo68VCfSc/WFMalv0dsuI/AAAAAAAAD3M/pSFSQwfj5LopkbvxCQ4LgrYAnZXktXcTQCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BCircle%2BCH%2BSH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mixing up CH and SH is so common - these activities really help differentiate between digraphs" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Kzjo68VCfSc/WFMalv0dsuI/AAAAAAAAD3M/pSFSQwfj5LopkbvxCQ4LgrYAnZXktXcTQCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BCircle%2BCH%2BSH.JPG" title="Mixing up CH and SH is so common - these activities really help differentiate between digraphs" width="480" /></a></div><br />I have a lot of different worksheets like this. Another worksheet format I love for differentiating between the digraph sounds are coloring pictures by their digraph sound.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3qz8a4xT1U/WFMbH4_5AGI/AAAAAAAAD3U/XvwZnjouO6olm2eCNqPTz67HF5SDjC6TwCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BColor%2Bby%2Bdigraph.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Color by Digraph worksheet and other fun digraphs worksheets that make learning those tricky sounds fun!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3qz8a4xT1U/WFMbH4_5AGI/AAAAAAAAD3U/XvwZnjouO6olm2eCNqPTz67HF5SDjC6TwCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BColor%2Bby%2Bdigraph.JPG" title="Color by Digraph worksheet and other fun digraphs worksheets that make learning those tricky sounds fun!" width="480" /></a></div><br />You can use the easier ones too for kids who struggle where it just has kids decide between 2 sounds to color by. For example, this one is just for SH and TH:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MkSmUJC0ozM/WFMbaGUalII/AAAAAAAAD3Y/tgpvNMRJmP4Qg0ieKYTStZUk4Q2ZlbhFwCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BColor%2Bby%2BSH%2BTH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Color by Digraph worksheet and other fun digraphs worksheets that make learning those tricky sounds fun!" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MkSmUJC0ozM/WFMbaGUalII/AAAAAAAAD3Y/tgpvNMRJmP4Qg0ieKYTStZUk4Q2ZlbhFwCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BColor%2Bby%2BSH%2BTH.JPG" title="Color by Digraph worksheet and other fun digraphs worksheets that make learning those tricky sounds fun!" width="480" /></a></div><br />You can also have them physically manipulate the pictures to sort them by sound.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NxxzYpZJzss/WFMbvgKiP7I/AAAAAAAAD3c/iheHW6K3Y8YVsaqe1sajILAsDcwjTykBACLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BPic%2BSort%2BWH%2BQU.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="WH or QU digraphs word sort and other fun digraphs teaching ideas " border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NxxzYpZJzss/WFMbvgKiP7I/AAAAAAAAD3c/iheHW6K3Y8YVsaqe1sajILAsDcwjTykBACLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BPic%2BSort%2BWH%2BQU.JPG" title="WH or QU digraphs word sort and other fun digraphs teaching ideas " width="480" /></a></div><br />&amp; of course for the tricky SH/CH mix up...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P7o6wUdDToU/WFMb7RsjlQI/AAAAAAAAD3g/KSo92_pNGp44vw24UVjN8j9TRKIP7bfbwCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BPic%2BSort%2BSH%2BCH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="SH or CH sort and other fun digraphs teaching ideas " border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P7o6wUdDToU/WFMb7RsjlQI/AAAAAAAAD3g/KSo92_pNGp44vw24UVjN8j9TRKIP7bfbwCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BPic%2BSort%2BSH%2BCH.JPG" title="SH or CH sort and other fun digraphs teaching ideas " width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Like I said, I differentiate as much as possible so if you feel like your kids can handle 3 digraphs at once, give them a page like this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AIL3Xo7in9U/WFMcID4wL9I/AAAAAAAAD3k/EZD5PdUOYvE-ghCX2IE2kL5eEKVstHk9wCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2B3%2Bbox%2BCH%2BSH%2BTH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs pictures sort and other fun reading activities for digraphs - read this post!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AIL3Xo7in9U/WFMcID4wL9I/AAAAAAAAD3k/EZD5PdUOYvE-ghCX2IE2kL5eEKVstHk9wCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2B3%2Bbox%2BCH%2BSH%2BTH.JPG" title="Digraphs pictures sort and other fun reading activities for digraphs - read this post!" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Do you explicitly teach WH and QU with your digraphs? I'd love to hear from you! Even though kids seem to pick them up really quickly, I think wh and qu should be taught explicitly in at least a few activities. Once they get them down, you can add them in with the other digraphs for practice.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jh67nGxC9X4/WFMccr7ypNI/AAAAAAAAD3o/rg5jnLyL4sI82EpNtlsmR3lA9vFdtWnhgCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2B3%2Bbox%2BCH%2BWH%2BQU.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs pictures sort and other fun reading activities for digraphs - read this post!" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jh67nGxC9X4/WFMccr7ypNI/AAAAAAAAD3o/rg5jnLyL4sI82EpNtlsmR3lA9vFdtWnhgCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2B3%2Bbox%2BCH%2BWH%2BQU.JPG" title="Digraphs pictures sort and other fun reading activities for digraphs - read this post!" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Even though it's "easy," I think it's important to still show them how words that start with the /w/ sound can sometimes start with WH like whale and whiskers. :) I also like to do worksheets specifically for things like that like this where kids circle the correct spelling. It really makes them think and see that sometimes it's W and sometimes it's WH.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lIubnqxqf6g/WFMcwUd6d8I/AAAAAAAAD3w/2_pe6gYiursLm_HarSu9k8dDLUxZop7NgCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BCircle%2BWH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="WH worksheets and activities and lots of ideas for teaching all the digraphs" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lIubnqxqf6g/WFMcwUd6d8I/AAAAAAAAD3w/2_pe6gYiursLm_HarSu9k8dDLUxZop7NgCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BCircle%2BWH.JPG" title="WH worksheets and activities and lots of ideas for teaching all the digraphs" width="480" /></a></div><br />I also like to highlight the WH in the words in sentences so they see it spelled that way in context. Here's an example:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f_g0H-_ChNg/WFMdNl85ZmI/AAAAAAAAD30/AxWhLCjXNV4QM3UBPBGav2hefz2Mo_IGgCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BLove%2Bto%2BRead%2BWH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="WH worksheets and activities and lots of ideas for teaching all the digraphs" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-f_g0H-_ChNg/WFMdNl85ZmI/AAAAAAAAD30/AxWhLCjXNV4QM3UBPBGav2hefz2Mo_IGgCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BLove%2Bto%2BRead%2BWH.JPG" title="WH worksheets and activities and lots of ideas for teaching all the digraphs" width="480" /></a></div><br />Same with when they're reading sentences WITHOUT picture support:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hJicvqephQg/WFMdaYynLnI/AAAAAAAAD34/oIG6o7xhI-gnTjQkXzrtDoIh9kH2k1aVwCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BCuttin%2BUp%2BWH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="WH worksheets and activities and lots of ideas for teaching all the digraphs" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hJicvqephQg/WFMdaYynLnI/AAAAAAAAD34/oIG6o7xhI-gnTjQkXzrtDoIh9kH2k1aVwCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BCuttin%2BUp%2BWH.JPG" title="WH worksheets and activities and lots of ideas for teaching all the digraphs" width="480" /></a></div><br />A lot of my activities have pictures but I think it's important to wean them off of the picture support as the week (or however long you teach each digraph) progresses. Once you feel like your students can soar without the picture support, switch to words-only. An easy place to start is with word sorts.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XQIdUYshlAU/WFMdtCQEKwI/AAAAAAAAD38/1WZqLocMv-oKTntLlwVZTBllZSAntZupgCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BWord%2BSort%2BCH%2BWH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraph sort between CH and WH words and sooo many other digraphs activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XQIdUYshlAU/WFMdtCQEKwI/AAAAAAAAD38/1WZqLocMv-oKTntLlwVZTBllZSAntZupgCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BWord%2BSort%2BCH%2BWH.JPG" title="Digraph sort between CH and WH words and sooo many other digraphs activities" width="480" /></a></div><br />As always, encourage them to say the word out loud as they sort them. You could also have them highlight the focus sound they found within the word before gluing it down if you wanted to. I love word sorts - there are so many different ways to sort words, all of which provide a lot of reading practice. Two examples are that you can have them sort by sound like above or by where the focus sound occurs within the word like below.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uBrxMpX9d3I/WFMeB94FSyI/AAAAAAAAD4A/SNviKJwAOTkTwlCgh45P2Q54WwYrGId_wCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2BSH%2BStart%2BEnd%2BWord%2BSort.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="SH words that start with SH or end with SH sort and so many more digraphs ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uBrxMpX9d3I/WFMeB94FSyI/AAAAAAAAD4A/SNviKJwAOTkTwlCgh45P2Q54WwYrGId_wCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2BSH%2BStart%2BEnd%2BWord%2BSort.JPG" title="SH words that start with SH or end with SH sort and so many more digraphs ideas" width="480" /></a></div><br />Another way to sort words is alphabetically! ABC order is an important concept that some kids immediately get while others need to practice it constantly. I include them in all the phonics pack so they can practice it every week while also reading words with the focus skill.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c3UeJAaavU0/WFMehMCnwII/AAAAAAAAD4E/LvLvVFFm_30cxyFcL9jYjsVZbluoQZYiQCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2BABC%2BOrder%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ABC order worksheet that is fun and hands on " border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-c3UeJAaavU0/WFMehMCnwII/AAAAAAAAD4E/LvLvVFFm_30cxyFcL9jYjsVZbluoQZYiQCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2BABC%2BOrder%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="ABC order worksheet that is fun and hands on " width="480" /></a></div><br />I'd love to show you more activities from my no prep phonics packs but wow this is already getting long and I have so much more to share! Just one more... I love letting kids write creatively. Sometimes, though, kids can get stumped so I created these primary writing pages with words on the side for kids to use for inspiration and reference for correct spelling. I have them where it's a writing box and lines <i>and</i> also this 3 box version for your really reluctant writers to just write sentences with the focus sound! See how they're all SH words to choose from? I also have <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phonics-Picture-Helpers-Writing-Paper-for-the-Entire-Year-2110726" target="_blank">a year set of these</a> if you just want those pages for each phonics skill. They're really great to throw in your writing center! For the version with multiple lines, you can also challenge them to use as many of the words on the side as possible in their story - you get some pretty funny stories that way! :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-edP-bqQMOdM/WFMfZ__8JtI/AAAAAAAAD4M/c4NUST4zsSIusUakE1qowoN6cXftFCjmACLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BCreative%2BWriting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Creative writing pages with words down the side AND spots to write sentences and illustrate their writing - I love these pages!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-edP-bqQMOdM/WFMfZ__8JtI/AAAAAAAAD4M/c4NUST4zsSIusUakE1qowoN6cXftFCjmACLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BNP%2B-%2B%2BCreative%2BWriting.JPG" title="Creative writing pages with words down the side AND spots to write sentences and illustrate their writing - I love these pages!" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />So that covers a lot of practice... but what about reading fluently with these words?? To help your students build fluency reading digraphs in context, I recommend targeted reading fluency passages. I wrote <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digraphs-Reading-Fluency-Passages-2439464" target="_blank">Digraphs Reading Fluency Passages</a> that each focus on a specific digraphs skill found in the upper right corner.<br /><br />For example, some focus on words that end in SH like this (see it in the corner?):<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pd-siw58c_g/WFMhDG8fSCI/AAAAAAAAD4U/YojTsM--tIc6ltaIk9JUmHbXAUjQC0uVgCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BReading%2BPassage%2BSH%2Bend.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs reading comprehension passages that are perfect for fluency practice while also practicing reading digraphs" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pd-siw58c_g/WFMhDG8fSCI/AAAAAAAAD4U/YojTsM--tIc6ltaIk9JUmHbXAUjQC0uVgCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BReading%2BPassage%2BSH%2Bend.JPG" title="Digraphs reading comprehension passages that are perfect for fluency practice while also practicing reading digraphs" width="480" /></a></div><br />Then other passages will focus on any word with the SH sound like this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ri3RMkAFMk/WFMhRN9bkSI/AAAAAAAAD4Y/mO0CZvuNyT4uUDt6fJzlhOYlcOj5meByQCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BReading%2BPassage%2BSH.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs reading comprehension passages that are perfect for fluency practice while also practicing reading digraphs" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9ri3RMkAFMk/WFMhRN9bkSI/AAAAAAAAD4Y/mO0CZvuNyT4uUDt6fJzlhOYlcOj5meByQCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BReading%2BPassage%2BSH.JPG" title="Digraphs reading comprehension passages that are perfect for fluency practice while also practicing reading digraphs" width="480" /></a></div><br />See how that one incorporates both words that end in SH (cash) and start with SH (shop)? That way, you can differentiate for your students and really hone in on where their skills are lacking.<br /><br />I really love using them because they are so specifically focused. I also try to make the other words (that aren't practicing the focus skill) as decodable as possible so they can flow really easily and only "struggle" on the words with the focus sound. I try to do this with all of my reading passages - I have a ton of them if you click on <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Miss-Giraffe/Category/Fluency-185555" target="_blank">"Fluency"</a> on the left side of my TpT shop, it'll show you them all! <br /><br />I also include a little bit of comprehension on the bottom of them to throw that in there. Remember I said I love to combine skills? Okay well these add even more... sequencing!<br /><br />Meet: <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digraphs-Reading-Fluency-and-Sequencing-Puzzles-1876986" target="_blank">Digraphs Reading Fluency and Sequencing PUZZLES</a>... yes, puzzles... I love puzzles!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QzZwv_7L0UQ/WFMiPtzAauI/AAAAAAAAD4c/GeyQwT0x8aYTamaQ8V4Tf7gkfEedtLUNwCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BFluency%2BPuzzles%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs reading fluency puzzles where kids read the digraphs passages then sequence the events of the story - so much practice in one little activity!! " border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QzZwv_7L0UQ/WFMiPtzAauI/AAAAAAAAD4c/GeyQwT0x8aYTamaQ8V4Tf7gkfEedtLUNwCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BFluency%2BPuzzles%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="Digraphs reading fluency puzzles where kids read the digraphs passages then sequence the events of the story - so much practice in one little activity!! " width="480" /></a></div><br />For these, kids read the passage then put the 4 puzzle pieces in order to correctly sequence the story. I made them <i>by phonics sound</i> so they are practicing reading words in context with the focus skill AND practicing sequencing and comprehension. They were such a hit that I made them for pretty much every phonics sound which you can find all the different packs in <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Fluency-Passages-Puzzles-BUNDLE-1956968" target="_blank">the big bundle of them</a> if you want them for other sounds too. <br /><br />They come in color like this to make hands on centers but I also have them in black and white so you can use them to create phonics fluency notebooks. I wrote all about my phonics fluency notebook <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/03/phonics-fluency-notebooks.html" target="_blank">in this post</a> if you want to read about them!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lYseMPIXT-s/WFMjEQFoBsI/AAAAAAAAD4g/CPskFH3JTmgfV7YS4L0dAspeNoNLSZ9nACLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BFluency%2BNotebook.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Phonics notebooks for digraphs and so many great ideas for teaching digraphs" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lYseMPIXT-s/WFMjEQFoBsI/AAAAAAAAD4g/CPskFH3JTmgfV7YS4L0dAspeNoNLSZ9nACLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BFluency%2BNotebook.JPG" title="Phonics notebooks for digraphs and so many great ideas for teaching digraphs" width="480" /></a></div><br />A quick summary of <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/03/phonics-fluency-notebooks.html" target="_blank">that post</a> is that you print the black and white versions with the mixed up pictures. Make sure you select the versions labeled "Mixed Up Pics" so that the pictures are mixed up. A black and white version with them already in the correct order is also included if you just want them to read and color the pictures in the story or for your really struggling kids) but if you're creating notebooks, you want to select the mixed up ones!<br /><br />Then, have kids highlight words with the focus sound. They read the story and put the events of the story in order. They also write the words with the focus sound from the story under it if you want! It combines a lot of skills in one activity.<br /><br />I like to do the notebook versions first then put all the color hands-on puzzles from the last few months out as a review center so they can do stories they've already done in their notebooks for extra practice.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-huiGV_q6uiE/WFMkkwIen-I/AAAAAAAAD4o/v02cVu-SqXwguJMfjVbu8K7pznNdNSULgCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BFluency%2BPuzzles%2B%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs reading fluency puzzles where kids read the digraphs passages then sequence the events of the story - so much practice in one little activity!! " border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-huiGV_q6uiE/WFMkkwIen-I/AAAAAAAAD4o/v02cVu-SqXwguJMfjVbu8K7pznNdNSULgCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BFluency%2BPuzzles%2B%25288%2529.JPG" title="Digraphs reading fluency puzzles where kids read the digraphs passages then sequence the events of the story - so much practice in one little activity!! " width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Another hands on activity you can do to practice digraphs are little sorting books. I also have these for a ton of different sounds and word families but these are the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digraphs-Book-1-ch-th-sh-sounds-1020246" target="_blank">CH TH SH</a> and <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digraphs-Book-2-qu-wh-ph-sounds-1203217" target="_blank">QU WH PH</a> books.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WP9l-JeS5ys/WFMlJI8AP7I/AAAAAAAAD4w/yqaE8-E709goYAzGvM4TIFRSc9VTLxypwCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BSorting%2BBooks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs books that are super fun to make as digraph word sort activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WP9l-JeS5ys/WFMlJI8AP7I/AAAAAAAAD4w/yqaE8-E709goYAzGvM4TIFRSc9VTLxypwCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BSorting%2BBooks.JPG" title="Digraphs books that are super fun to make as digraph word sort activities" width="480" /></a></div><br />Each book comes in 2 levels... you can have kids simply create the book where the words are already sorted under the correct sound. It's also a quick way to make an example book. The bottom book in this picture that sorts QU, WH, and PH words is this kind.<br /><br />What I prefer, though, is to make the sorting book version which the book on top (CH, TH, SH) shows - see how there are dotted lines around the picture cards in that one? That's because you make the book with blank pages THEN sort the picture/word cards under the correct sound by cutting and pasting them. It's great word sorting practice! I only use the pre-made version to make examples or if there's not enough time in the week to make the sorting version. They're awesome little books for them to flip through and read and take home to show their parents.<br /><br />For even more sorting practice, bust out the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digraph-sicles-Digraphs-Ice-Cream-Themed-Center-1564502" target="_blank">Digraph-sicles Centers</a>! They're just fun ice cream themed centers to practice digraphs. It practices ch, sh, th, wh, qu, and ph so you could have them sort words by their digraph sound OR pictures by their sound OR both pictures and words like this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1q14FMCTerw/WFMmeeF2yBI/AAAAAAAAD48/YSHuG3WtBKYWovmvSPh4uypxNOKOnnhtgCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BWord%2BSort%2BDigraphsicles%2B%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraph word sort centers and so many great digraphs reading centers for kindergarten and first grade" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1q14FMCTerw/WFMmeeF2yBI/AAAAAAAAD48/YSHuG3WtBKYWovmvSPh4uypxNOKOnnhtgCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BWord%2BSort%2BDigraphsicles%2B%25289%2529.JPG" title="Digraph word sort centers and so many great digraphs reading centers for kindergarten and first grade" width="480" /></a></div><br />You could also just have them match the picture to the sounds without sorting them by sound. So if you're only learning TH, they'd just match sloth to the sloth picture, bath to the kid taking a bath, etc.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4taDe27Ebs/WFMmYgbAW4I/AAAAAAAAD44/3OGmU3vGb8cklcizNrwyQwS68me4LSr5wCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BWord%2BSort%2BDigraphsicles%2B%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraph word sort centers and so many great digraphs reading centers for kindergarten and first grade" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q4taDe27Ebs/WFMmYgbAW4I/AAAAAAAAD44/3OGmU3vGb8cklcizNrwyQwS68me4LSr5wCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BWord%2BSort%2BDigraphsicles%2B%25287%2529.JPG" title="Digraph word sort centers and so many great digraphs reading centers for kindergarten and first grade" width="480" /></a></div><br />You can make it as simple (just word to picture) or as difficult (word, picture, AND 3 different sounds) as you want!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uxvMLBQatKg/WFMnCX8Nv8I/AAAAAAAAD5A/wLUubGpNfLgtieU54usMAVSXGbyWTqh2wCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BWord%2BSort%2BDigraphsicles%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraph word sort centers and so many great digraphs reading centers for kindergarten and first grade" border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uxvMLBQatKg/WFMnCX8Nv8I/AAAAAAAAD5A/wLUubGpNfLgtieU54usMAVSXGbyWTqh2wCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BWord%2BSort%2BDigraphsicles%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Digraph word sort centers and so many great digraphs reading centers for kindergarten and first grade" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Another easy center you can throw out is clip cards. These are the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digraphs-Clip-Cards-Bundle-2238018" target="_blank">Digraphs Clip Cards</a> but I also have <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phonics-Clip-Cards-MEGA-GROWING-BUNDLE-2065537" target="_blank">a bundle</a> of them if you like them and want them for all the sounds.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LA2OH8AIdTQ/WFMnca8jWEI/AAAAAAAAD5E/02uLZ6XPzjwWJ0WOB9KwZF5XoCGdHcVAACLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BClip%2BCards%2B%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs center clip cards are so much fun! Lots of great kindergarten digraphs ideas on this page!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LA2OH8AIdTQ/WFMnca8jWEI/AAAAAAAAD5E/02uLZ6XPzjwWJ0WOB9KwZF5XoCGdHcVAACLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BClip%2BCards%2B%25284%2529.JPG" title="Digraphs center clip cards are so much fun! Lots of great kindergarten digraphs ideas on this page!" width="480" /></a></div><br />Kids simply read the word in the middle and clip the picture it says. I don't know why kids love clothespins so much but hey, whatever works.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yo-srYvASEI/WFMnlqrCsWI/AAAAAAAAD5M/sI3iAcFJKYwA7-yFgMH1f2HnvqV9NVLDgCLcB/s1600/Digraphs%2BClip%2BCards%2B%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs clip cards and other fun activities for teaching digraphs ch th sh wh qu and ph!" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Yo-srYvASEI/WFMnlqrCsWI/AAAAAAAAD5M/sI3iAcFJKYwA7-yFgMH1f2HnvqV9NVLDgCLcB/s640/Digraphs%2BClip%2BCards%2B%25287%2529.JPG" title="Digraphs clip cards and other fun activities for teaching digraphs ch th sh wh qu and ph!" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Okay I think that's enough digraphs fun to show! I actually have a lot more digraphs activities I could show but I appreciate you sticking around this long if you did!!<br /><br />If you want EVERYTHING I showed in this post (and more!), ALL of the activities I showed in this post are included in the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digraphs-ULTIMATE-BUNDLE-2238021" target="_blank">DIGRAPHS ULTIMATE BUNDLE</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digraphs-ULTIMATE-BUNDLE-2238021" target="_blank"><img alt="Digraphs bundle of so many digraphs activities worksheets and centers to practice digraphs!" border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZAAhivp7xWU/WFMoN-bhnbI/AAAAAAAAD5Q/Drw65zya87g9gt_1_X-roS_XqSEmo8YywCEw/s320/0%2BDigraphs%2BBundle%2BCover.jpg" title="Digraphs bundle of so many digraphs activities worksheets and centers to practice digraphs!" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />I hope you enjoyed this post and seeing some different ways to practice digraphs with your kids! If you like any of these activities but want them with different sounds, I probably have them - just look :) I try to make each activity in every phonics sound so that things are consistent.<br /><br />Happy teaching, friends!<br /><br /><div><span style="font-size: medium;">I'd love if you took a moment to follow me on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/themissgiraffe/pins/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MissGiraffesClass/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/missgiraffesclass/" target="_blank">IG</a>&nbsp;for more fun ideas like this. Thanks!</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Also - don't forget to join&nbsp;<a href="http://eepurl.com/1WAO9" target="_blank">Miss Giraffe's Class</a>&nbsp;so you never miss out on fun ideas and exclusive&nbsp;<b>free stuff</b>&nbsp;from me only for subscribers!</span></div><div><div></div><div><br /></div></div>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-66647561068070434652016-10-21T12:02:00.000-07:002016-10-26T13:34:47.296-07:0025 Chatty Class Classroom Management Strategies for Overly Talkative StudentsHave a chatty class? Do your talkative students get louder and louder during small groups until it feels like chaos? Do they talk when you're talking then ask you what the directions were as soon as you finish?<br /><div><br /></div><div>Don't worry. This is totally normal. And completely fixable. Really!</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are some simple but effective classroom management strategies for taming talkative students and getting that side chatter under control! Make sure you read them all so you can find the ones that are perfect for you and your class - I packed a lot of tips and tricks in this!</div><div><br /></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. The Secret Word</span><br /><div>This works like a charm. If you're going to be giving directions, teaching a mini lesson, reading a book out loud, etc.: Tell the students to listen for <b>a secret word</b> (ex: kangaroo, watermelon, etc.) that you will randomly insert in your talking. The first person to raise their hand when you say this word (it's super exciting for them!) gets some sort of prize - a sticker, a ticket, time on the computer - or just the satisfaction of being the person who got it first. Insert the word toward the end of your directions so they hear them all and the daydreaming students don't lose focus after the fun word has been said. They will be hanging on your every word, with their hands ready. If their friends try to talk to them, they will probably ignore them so they don't get distracted and miss the secret word.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. The Timer Trick</span></div><div>Another way to get students to not talk while you give directions is to play "Beat the Timer." You can make this a fun challenge for them! Any time you start talking, students have no idea if you're going to give them 1 minute directions or go on a 10 minute ramble so they're likely to just start talking when you do.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Tell them that if they can "beat the timer," they'll get some free time to chat. Make it seem like a game. Set a kitchen timer for how long you want to talk for. Tell them that if no one talks before it goes off, they get free time to chat after you're done! I recommend starting out at only 2 or 3 minutes then <i>slowly</i> working up to 10-15 minutes or however long your mini lessons are. If no one talks, you'll set the timer to give them 1-2 minutes to freely talk after you're done. If just one person talks, they don't get the chat time. They don't want to be the one to make everyone miss out and will also regulate each other.</div><div><br /></div><div>Kids will do anything to get this free time to chat for a minute! Plus, if they know there's an end in sight to your talking and have an incentive to stay quiet, they will. You can project an online timer on your interactive white board if you have one or put the kitchen timer under your document camera if you want them to be able to see it. Seeing it count down might help especially impulsive kids control themselves. However, if you notice they're all looking at the timer rather than listening, don't provide the visual. I personally say don't show it to them so they don't see how long you're going to talk for and sigh when it's a high number like 10-15 minutes. For really young kids, you can also break 15 minute lessons up into chunks - you talk 5 minutes, give them a minute to chat about it, you talk 4 minutes, give them a minute to chat, you talk 3 minutes, give them a minute to chat.</div><div><br /></div><div>If they talk before the timer goes off, act sad, "Aw man! Someone talked. I guess we won't get talk time. Let's try harder next time." and that person will think twice about doing it again because their friends definitely know who they were, you don't need to say it. If they don't talk before the timer goes off, let them have free time chatting for 1-3 minutes at the carpet or their desks, wherever they were when you gave directions. Set the timer so they hear it go off when it's time to stop chatting and get to the next activity. Also enforce that when they hear the chat timer go off, they must get straight to work or they won't get to play "beat the timer" next time you talk. Having a timer will also force you to make your directions concise. It's easy as a teacher to repeat things or ramble, especially when being constantly interrupted, so timers actually help me keep directions simple and to the point.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Play "Students vs. Teacher" or "Table Points" to make staying quiet a competition.</span>&nbsp;</div><div>I explain how to use this strategy in my post: <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/04/classroom-management-strategies.html" target="_blank">20 Classroom Management Strategies You Can Start Right Away</a> - I really recommend reading that for a lot of simple behavior management tricks you can do to make the day easier!</div><div><br /></div><div>In that post, I show it using tallies but you can also use 10 frames or even 20 frames to connect it with learning!</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UrOrXKqBZPU/WAlrpEMgWVI/AAAAAAAADpg/end6MDe7_ss_kBxyVADZy56v1D8jU4iuACLcB/s1600/Students%2Bvs%2BTeacher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="25 Classroom Management Strategies to keep a chatty class quiet - I love this idea of using 10 frames on the whiteboard to play Students vs. Teacher! Lots of tips - save this!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UrOrXKqBZPU/WAlrpEMgWVI/AAAAAAAADpg/end6MDe7_ss_kBxyVADZy56v1D8jU4iuACLcB/s640/Students%2Bvs%2BTeacher.JPG" title="25 Classroom Management Strategies to keep a chatty class quiet - I love this idea of using 10 frames on the whiteboard to play Students vs. Teacher! Lots of tips - save this!" width="480" /></a></div></div><div><br />You can get the "Students" and "Teacher" labels and ten frame mats in my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chatty-Class-Classroom-Management-Tools-for-Talkative-Students-2841044" target="_blank">Chatty Class Classroom Management pack</a>. There's also extra ten frames so you can make it 20 frames.<br /><br />I stuck magnet dots on the back of math cubes so I can easily fill the frames but you could use circle magnets or fun themed magnets (or put magnet dots on the backs of fun holiday objects like spiders for Halloween) to fill up the ten frames depending on the season.<br /><br />By the way, I totally recommend sticking magnets dots on math manipulatives like this to use during <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/math.html" target="_blank">math instruction</a> on the board! &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>For Students vs. Teacher, whoever fills their 10 frame first wins! If the students win, they get something (ex: 10 minutes extra recess or free time). If you win, just make up a prize for yourself - they don't need to know if you did or not :) Maybe make your prize ice cream because if you win... that means your class was c-razy and you deserve ice cream. Hopefully your class always beats you! :)</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. Read books about being too chatty!</span></div><div>There are some fantastic books to read aloud that address specific behaviors.</div><div><br /></div><div>Check out this awesome list of books organized <b>by behavior</b>&nbsp;that you can read to your class to have great classroom discussions about their behavior:</div><div><a href="http://www.teacherslovelists.com/best-books/books-by-behavior/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Fun Read Alouds for Your Class Organized by Behavior</span></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Check out the books in the categories "Blurting &amp; Interrupting," "Overly Chatty," "Using Your Inside Voice," and "Listening" - these are seriously awesome books that will help a ton!</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. Partner Talk</span></div><div>Kids love to talk. If they know they can talk during your lesson, they're more likely to stay quiet in between (or at least can be trained to be). Let them talk but make it relate to the lesson. If they know they're going to have to explain what you said to the person next to them, they'll listen so they don't say "uhhh" when it's time to share. Every kid should have an A/B partner at their carpet spot (if you don't have assigned carpet spots, do that yesterday!) and at their desks that stays the same. Every kid is either an A or a B (you can make it a cutesy name like chips and salsa, monkeys and bananas, etc. if you want) and that is what they always are so it's known and doesn't take time to explain each time. If their partner is absent that day, let them join the 2 people next to them as a C so there's no physical moving involved.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>After you explain something, say "As tell Bs what I just said" or "Bs explain to As how to..." or "As what do you think about [insert open ended question relating to the lesson]" so they never know if you're going to have As talk or Bs talk. If you don't assign it, they'll figure they don't have to listen because their partner will OR the more dominant kid will always talk. This gets everyone listening and talking about the lesson. Do it several times during your lessons, directions, or read alouds. It seriously works wonders!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. Blurt Cubes</span></div><div>Blurt cubes are AWESOME. If you have a few super chatty kids, you can do it just with them or you can do it with the whole class.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p2iBXsplV6s/WAlswq-D9sI/AAAAAAAADpk/YOiOUHcx06ozEWb3pmHFNBPmEF5O4vZCQCLcB/s1600/Blurt%2BCubes%2BDesk.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chatty class driving you crazy?? Read about how to use BLURT cubes to get a overly talkative class to be quiet in a fun and positive way" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p2iBXsplV6s/WAlswq-D9sI/AAAAAAAADpk/YOiOUHcx06ozEWb3pmHFNBPmEF5O4vZCQCLcB/s640/Blurt%2BCubes%2BDesk.JPG" title="Chatty class driving you crazy?? Read about how to use BLURT cubes to get a overly talkative class to be quiet in a fun and positive way" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Every kid has 5 cubes on their desk that spell BLURT. Their goal is to keep them saying BLURT all day.</div><div><br /></div><div>If they blurt or talk while you're talking, you discreetly give them the blurt signal (look directly at them and hold up your hand in front of your chest showing the letter B in sign language) while continuing to talk. A quiet signal doesn't interrupt your lesson but they know to redirect themselves. The other kids will also see you give the signal and it'll remind <i>them</i>&nbsp;not to blurt either. When a student sees you give them the blurt signal, they know to switch their cube to upside down so it no longer shows the T in "Blurt" - the next time, they'd lose the R, then the U, etc. They cannot earn them back. Having the cubes on their desk is a great visual, yet private, reminder for especially impulsive kids.</div><div><br /></div><div>If they have all the letters in BLURT at the end of the day, they get a "Blurt Dessert" card! Make the blurt dessert something really appealing like a few minutes of free time at the end of the day while the kids who lost letters work on unfinished work. If you have a really chatty and/or impulsive class, I recommend doing 2 rounds of blurt cubes halfway through the day with a known time it resets about halfway through each day (before lunch and after lunch, for example) so an impulsive kid doesn't immediately give up for the whole day when they lose 1 cube.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AfByDb9LOCE/WAls9jIj3rI/AAAAAAAADpo/UOSYrsB4XZU_x5GIVN5nIFvToWlhcNRBwCLcB/s1600/Blurt%2BDesserts%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="25 Chatty Class Classroom Management Strategies to Quiet a Talkative Class... so many teaching tricks!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AfByDb9LOCE/WAls9jIj3rI/AAAAAAAADpo/UOSYrsB4XZU_x5GIVN5nIFvToWlhcNRBwCLcB/s640/Blurt%2BDesserts%2B2.JPG" title="25 Chatty Class Classroom Management Strategies to Quiet a Talkative Class... so many teaching tricks!" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>You can also make the rewards "shaded"... the more cubes they have, the more privileges they get sooner. "If you have all of your Blurt cubes, line up for recess [those kids line up], if you have 4 of your cubes still, line up [those kids line up]," and so on. If you let the kids go to the free time, they go in that order. If you let the kids talk at their tables, the non-blurters can talk first then after 30 seconds, let the 4 cubes join in, then the 3 cubes, etc. That way, if a kid loses 1 cube, they still have incentive to not lose any more cubes.<br /><br />If they lose ALL of their cubes, you can have them fill out a "Blurt Alert" sheet.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sKoXoxLpuoA/WAltGSWBxvI/AAAAAAAADps/iZspiS_tvgIoWnMRtIcKYwNc-n4MD5jdwCLcB/s1600/Blurt%2BAlert.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="BLURT cubes classroom management trick to get a chatty class to be quiet.. your kids will LOVE this behavior management strategy!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sKoXoxLpuoA/WAltGSWBxvI/AAAAAAAADps/iZspiS_tvgIoWnMRtIcKYwNc-n4MD5jdwCLcB/s640/Blurt%2BAlert.JPG" title="BLURT cubes classroom management trick to get a chatty class to be quiet.. your kids will LOVE this behavior management strategy!" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>They can either take it home to their parents to sign and return or you can keep it in your records.<br /><br />These blurt alerts and desserts are also in my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chatty-Class-Classroom-Management-Tools-for-Talkative-Students-2841044" target="_blank">Chatty Class pack</a>. I love the Blurt Dessert cards for recognizing kids who don't blurt (it's easy for the quiet ones to get ignored) - you can have them collect them and then turn them in for rewards or prizes.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oyN9UIhEhRA/WAltP4SaRBI/AAAAAAAADpw/PkOqi5UtAtYvaWahDhovt4PQRRCLd-esACLcB/s1600/Blurt%2BAlerts%2Band%2BDesserts.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blurt alerts and blurt desserts are such a fun way to get a talkative class under control using BLURT cubes... BLURT cubes are the best! " border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oyN9UIhEhRA/WAltP4SaRBI/AAAAAAAADpw/PkOqi5UtAtYvaWahDhovt4PQRRCLd-esACLcB/s640/Blurt%2BAlerts%2Band%2BDesserts.JPG" title="Blurt alerts and blurt desserts are such a fun way to get a talkative class under control using BLURT cubes... BLURT cubes are the best! " width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">7. The Quiet Manager</span></div><div>This is another favorite trick of mine that is pure GOLD for independent work time during math or literacy centers - those times when you're sitting at a small groups table and can't actively manage the classroom.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>When independent work time begins, pick a well-behaved child to be the Quiet Manager and give them a 2-minute sand timer from the dollar store.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>They flip the timer and stand at the front of the classroom or wherever they can see all the students best. They are looking for the quietest, hardest working student to be the next Quiet Manager. They EAT. THIS. UP. Just being able to get out of their seats for a second and stand at the front of the class with an important job for 2 minutes is a huge incentive. The quiet manager is looking for kids who don't look up (unless it's to see the word wall or a reference chart), are focused on their work, and aren't talking at all. Everyone will be working quietly to try to get chosen. When their sand timer runs out, their job is over and they quietly tap the person they thought was working hardest. They sit back down to do their work and the person they tapped goes to the front, flips the timer, and does the same thing. You can be picked more than once (otherwise kids won't care once they've been picked) but be sure to talk to them about not just picking your friends. Tell them exactly what desired behaviors to look for when you explain the job and tell them how it's a super important job to keep the class quiet and hard working. :) They DON'T walk around between desks/tables, they stand in one place with their timer. It may sound like it's distracting but it's really not - especially when all the kids know looking up at the quiet manager will make them not get chosen since <i>not</i> looking up is one of the desired behaviors the quiet manager is looking for. It's a GREAT, simple way to keep your kids quiet and working while you're trying to do small groups! Note: If there is center time where your kids are allowed to talk then the quiet manager is looking for kids who are working at a reasonable voice level and not loud, are staying in their seats, and are focused on their work. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">8. Make blurting a clip down level offense.</span></div><div>If you use a behavior chart in your classroom, make students clip down when they blurt. I talk all about <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/04/classroom-management-strategies.html" target="_blank">how to use behavior charts effectively</a> in the classroom in <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/04/classroom-management-strategies.html" target="_blank">this post</a> - I highly recommend it if you use a behavior clip chart. I explain how to keep it positive and how to keep it working all year by switching out the chart for a new one each month to keep it fresh and exciting! I also show all the fun charts I use all year for different holidays and themes. You can make your clip chart a really fun, positive classroom management tool with these tricks. :)</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">9. The marshmallow trick</span></div><div>This one should be used sparingly, of course, but it's great if you know you need to teach a long lesson or really want them to listen to something. Plus they'll think you're the coolest teacher ever. Give each kid one of those giant marshmallows that fills their whole mouth. Tell them to keep it in their mouth the entire time you're talking - don't chew or swallow it. Anyone who still has the marshmallow in their mouth after you're done talking gets a brand new yummy marshmallow!<br /><br />They'll definitely remember this lesson so you can use it all year to tell them how you want their mouths. Simply say "marshmallows" and they know to puff out their cheeks as if they have a marshmallow in their mouths. You can also keep the theme by having a bag of mini marshmallows that you occasionally bring out and quietly/casually place one on the desks of kids who are working quietly. Place just one marshmallow on a desk and every kid will be so quiet hoping to get one too. This works with any kind of food! Don't feel like you have to give them a handful - just one pretzel, one cracker, etc. is enough to quiet everyone down - you can come around more than once to the same kid if they're super quiet, it'll just keep encouraging the others to be, and continue to be, quiet to earn more. &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">10. Blurt Beans</span></div><div>You can do this in many different ways but the goal is to fill up the jar to earn prizes along the way. Write class rewards on colored tape to put on the jar. The prizes get better as they fill up the jar! I like having prizes along the way so the awesome big prize doesn't seem so far away and it keeps their motivation high. Fill in fun prizes on tape to put on the jar and when the jar gets to that line, they get that prize!<br /><br />I love pinto beans because they are small so it takes a long time to fill up a jar... and they're cheap! Plus, you probably have some in a cabinet somewhere already that you keep meaning to pull out as math manipulatives. :)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zVPgE2AA9YQ/WAluA_5L9BI/AAAAAAAADp4/4gwRjuoXKMsWrnBBvU2MbNL1p-svSTFnwCLcB/s1600/Blurt%2BBeans%2BReward%2BJar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Class reward jar that has different levels so kids stay motivated to get to the top - lots of fun ideas for behavior management on this post" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zVPgE2AA9YQ/WAluA_5L9BI/AAAAAAAADp4/4gwRjuoXKMsWrnBBvU2MbNL1p-svSTFnwCLcB/s640/Blurt%2BBeans%2BReward%2BJar.JPG" title="Class reward jar that has different levels so kids stay motivated to get to the top - lots of fun ideas for behavior management on this post" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Every day, each kid gets 5 (or 3 or whatever you decide) blurt beans to start the day. I recommend they keep them on their name tag. THEY are responsible for keeping track of them. If they lose them, oh well. If they blurt out or talk while you're talking, you quickly and discreetly take away a bean from them or tell them to go put a bean in the blurt beans jar. Have another jar on your desk or somewhere you drop them into. I wouldn't have it displayed necessarily but it's nice to have as a visual during a firm look-at-all-the-beans-we-could've-put-in-our-jar-toward-our-goals talk on a particularly crazy day - but don't do that often at all - keep this as positive as possible! At the end of the day, all the kids drop their beans into the class rewards jar which is exciting to see it fill up more and more toward the lines.&nbsp;</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MzhQUaGqAXw/WAlt4STDVwI/AAAAAAAADp0/Sro4AN5RPiQDJj8EIIb47VshDjk83j_mwCEw/s1600/Blurt%2BBeans%2BJar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blurt beans are AWESOME for helping kids not interrupt and earn fun rewards! Read this!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MzhQUaGqAXw/WAlt4STDVwI/AAAAAAAADp0/Sro4AN5RPiQDJj8EIIb47VshDjk83j_mwCEw/s640/Blurt%2BBeans%2BJar.JPG" title="Blurt beans are AWESOME for helping kids not interrupt and earn fun rewards! Read this!" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>I love that the beans don't have names or identifying features on them. They're working together to fill up the jar so no beans will be stolen, they'll be careful to not knock other peoples' beans onto the floor (beans on the floor that aren't yours immediately go in the blurt beans jar), and they'll encourage friends to be quiet. You could also have an individual blurt bean jar for a super chatty kid if you just have 1 blurter and your class is otherwise quiet.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>For younger kids (kindergarten and first grade), &nbsp;you may need to break it up a lot more than 5 to manage all day (although you'd be amazed how well they'll protect their beans when there are rewards are involved). In this case, do 1 bean per lesson. Have someone's job be the Blurt Bean Manager. When you tell them to, they go get a handful of beans, hand each kid 1, and put the rest back in the jar. Every time you want to do a lesson, independent work time, read aloud, or any time you want them to be quiet, each kid gets 1 bean. If they're listening on the carpet, have them hold it in their folded hands so it is also a physical reminder.<br /><br />If they talk during the lesson, they have to give you their bean. At the end of your lesson, hold the class rewards jar and let the kids who kept their bean quickly drop in their bean (while you say, "Good job" with a smile) on their way back to their seats or, if they're already in their seats, go around while they're working with the jar to collect their bean and smile at them when they drop it in. You can also have bean collecting be the Blurt Bean Managers' job. Be sure to say positive things like, "Wow! Look at all the beans we earned from good listening! We're getting closer to the [whatever next reward is] line!"</div><div><br /></div><div>Never take beans out of the jar. Once they earn it, it's theirs. It's a really fun twist on the class jar!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">11. Use a voice level chart.</span><br />I LOVE voice level charts. I don't think it's enough to just say "inside voice" or "outside voice" to young kids because they'll just start out in a quiet voice and progressively get louder. Sound familiar?<br /><br />Have a visual displayed that tells them exactly the voice you want them to use. I love my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chatty-Class-Classroom-Management-Tools-for-Talkative-Students-2841044" target="_blank">animal themed voice level chart</a>! Put a clip on the voice level you want them to be using at that moment and they can easily look up at any time to see where it should be.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eBDeGcfd4Kk/WAluOG9O7gI/AAAAAAAADp8/7tRP9OcLpLMZLWZj2knPxUr0IBL92f2wgCLcB/s1600/Voice%2BLevel%2BChart.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Voice Level Chart that is animal themed and fun to keep classroom noise under control - click to read how she uses this!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eBDeGcfd4Kk/WAluOG9O7gI/AAAAAAAADp8/7tRP9OcLpLMZLWZj2knPxUr0IBL92f2wgCLcB/s640/Voice%2BLevel%2BChart.JPG" title="Voice Level Chart that is animal themed and fun to keep classroom noise under control - click to read how she uses this!" width="480" /></a></div><br />When you first introduce the chart, practice each level with the kids. Make it fun and be dramatic. When you practice "Loud Lion" ask what sound a lion makes... ROAR! Then talk in a super loud voice and say that's what a loud lion sounds like. Should we ever use that voice inside? Nooo. Only on the playground or outside.<br /><br />Practice every single one. This may sound silly but some of your kids might not know how to whisper. Have you ever had a student who has a whisper that seems louder than talking? Practice whispering. Have them touch their throats while they talk to feel the vibration. Then have them touch it while whispering. Tell them they shouldn't feel any vibration while whispering. That usually does the trick. :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EnkAGoBhAO8/WAluaOQvvuI/AAAAAAAADqA/uWe5nrzX5CQ3RAZ98C7qVJuv9C4tkTwsACLcB/s1600/Voice%2BLevel%2BChart%2BDisplay.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="25 Chatty Class Classroom Management Strategies to help quiet a talkative class - I love these ideas!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EnkAGoBhAO8/WAluaOQvvuI/AAAAAAAADqA/uWe5nrzX5CQ3RAZ98C7qVJuv9C4tkTwsACLcB/s640/Voice%2BLevel%2BChart%2BDisplay.JPG" title="25 Chatty Class Classroom Management Strategies to help quiet a talkative class - I love these ideas!" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />I like having full page posters of the voice level displayed next to the chart too so kids can see it from anywhere in the room. Simply print them, put them on <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/must-have-classroom-supplies.html" target="_blank">a binder ring</a>, and flip it to the current voice level. As you can see, I clipped "Inside Iguanas" so kids should be using their inside voices so I would then flip the animal poster to the iguana poster so kids can see it across the room for easy reference. Make sure you keep up with it so kids know they can reference it at any time. You could have it be a students' job to flip it. Anything you can delegate or that doesn't have you use your voice (constant verbal reminders are fun for no one), the happier teacher you will be!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_7pwyG1XvGQ/WAlufYLxieI/AAAAAAAADqE/Q_d4AjRRcBMQ-MANGdT_LdDbfXhAkbIRwCLcB/s1600/Voice%2BLevel%2BPosters.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Voice level chart posters to go along with the chart so kids know the exact noise level they should be talking at and can see from anywhere in the classroom" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_7pwyG1XvGQ/WAlufYLxieI/AAAAAAAADqE/Q_d4AjRRcBMQ-MANGdT_LdDbfXhAkbIRwCLcB/s640/Voice%2BLevel%2BPosters.JPG" title="Voice level chart posters to go along with the chart so kids know the exact noise level they should be talking at and can see from anywhere in the classroom" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />What about when it's "Quiet Turtle" time??<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">12. The Quiet Turtle</span><br /><br />The bottom of the voice level chart is called Quiet Turtle. The quiet turtle is a big deal, my friends. When I say, "It's turtle time!" that means all voices are off until further notice.<br /><br />To keep up with the theme, occasionally tell kids you're looking for quiet turtles to give a sticker/treat/ticket/etc. too. You only have to give 1 or 2 out to get complete silence.<br /><br />My favorite part, though, is to have a quiet turtle! Get a turtle stuffed animal and let your kids name him. Mine is Tommy. He is the "quiet turtle." Be sure to tell your kids he doesn't like loud classrooms so he only comes out when it's really quiet. He likes to sit by the kids who are being the quietest.<br /><br />You could say something like, "Tommy wants to come out but he's looking for quiet turtle friends." when it gets noisy and when they get really quiet, bring him out and place him on the desk of someone being quiet. They can hold him while they do their work. After a few minutes, Tommy goes to a new quiet friend. They'll be super quiet to get the turtle!<br /><br />You could also make mini quiet turtles! I LOVE my little quiet turtles!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UbcN0cxlPiI/WAlukxdL4hI/AAAAAAAADqI/jTu0eEEl1m8CqMmuhl-Q-JL-O2OswqXAQCLcB/s1600/Quiet%2BTurtles.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Quiet turtles classroom management strategy that kids LOVE! Lots of wonderful behavior management strategies to help with a noisy talkative class" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UbcN0cxlPiI/WAlukxdL4hI/AAAAAAAADqI/jTu0eEEl1m8CqMmuhl-Q-JL-O2OswqXAQCLcB/s640/Quiet%2BTurtles.JPG" title="Quiet turtles classroom management strategy that kids LOVE! Lots of wonderful behavior management strategies to help with a noisy talkative class" width="480" /></a></div><br />Place them on the desks of kids working really quietly.<br /><br />Make sure you tell them the quiet turtles don't like being touched by anyone other than you so if you touch it, you're going to scare it so you'll lose it. They also don't like noise so if you talk, you lose it. Keep it fun and act like they're caring for a pet. For some reason, having the little turtle on their desk to take care of is incentive enough to not talk sometimes! Only use this method occasionally or it'll lose its excitement. With all behavior tricks, you want to vary it up and keep it exciting!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3M0mN11hj3I/WAlvVWxYRuI/AAAAAAAADqQ/rabDFXktiEAhPdDkDT6C-M4z0BviqGxawCLcB/s1600/Quiet%2BTurtle%2BCraft.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Turtle craft for kids that is super cute and easy" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3M0mN11hj3I/WAlvVWxYRuI/AAAAAAAADqQ/rabDFXktiEAhPdDkDT6C-M4z0BviqGxawCLcB/s640/Quiet%2BTurtle%2BCraft.JPG" title="Turtle craft for kids that is super cute and easy" width="480" /></a></div><br />How cute are these little turtles though? They're super easy to make! Use a hot glue gun to put a 1" light green pom on a 1.5" dark green pom. Add wiggle eyes and green felt feet and you've got a little turtle. :)<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">13. Play music</span><br />Some teachers find this helpful, others don't. Play instrumental or classical music while they work. It does have a sort of soothing feel and fills up the need for noise so it can keep students quiet during work time. Tell them if you can't hear the music, you're too loud. They only get the music if they can work quietly, otherwise it's silence.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">14. The 5 Finger Game</span><br />If you want to explain something or give directions, hold up your hand with 5 fingers up against you at chest level. The kids copy you (hands against their chests so it's not distracting to them or others). If someone talks, blurts, or interrupts, you put down a finger. All the kids copy you immediately. If you can get through the directions with all your fingers up, they get 2 minutes to chat before the activity (or earn some type of reward but I like instant rewards when possible). If you still have 3 or 4 fingers up, they get 1 minute. Only 2 or 3 fingers, they get no talk time. 1 or less, some type of punishment like losing recess time. You can alter the times and number of fingers to fit your class. The beauty of it is that they have to copy you... so they have to be at least looking at you while you talk. If someone doesn't put their finger down when you do in a timely manner, the class loses another finger. Don't say who did it but say, "Uh oh. Someone didn't copy in time. We lost another finger." so they know <i>everyone</i> has to pay attention. Holding up their hand &nbsp;is also a physical reminder for those especially blurt-y kids to control themselves.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">15. The Whisper Game</span><br />Another effective game is the whisper game. When you want to get their attention and start talking, say in a really quiet voice, "If you can hear me, [your name] says to put your finger on your nose." Only a few kids will probably hear you the first time. Keep going. "If you can hear me, [your name] says put your hands on your hand" and other funny little motions as you get more and more kids' attention. They'll think it's fun and the other kids will join in. Once you have the attention of the whole class, do the "If you can hear me, clap your hands" or something where you DON'T say [your name] says (they only are supposed to do it if you say that before the task, just like the popular game) to end it in a fun way then start your spiel. :)<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">16. Copy My Clap</span><br />When you want to get the attention of a noisy class quickly, clap out a rhythm. They know to clap back the exact same rhythm. Only some kids will clap back the first time most likely. Clap the same rhythm again (hopefully most will do it back). Now do a new rhythm. Keep doing rhythms until you get everyones' attention. Smile while you do it so it's a fun thing! I like to clap out a really difficult fun rhythm for the last clap because kids think it's funny. The goal is always to use your voice as little as possible so you can keep your energy and honestly, using your voice to tell kids to quiet down is just as effective as talking to a wall most of the time so you want as many nonverbal strategies as you can get.<br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">17. Cute and fun call backs</span><br />If you DO use your voice, have it be simple and quick like fun callbacks. There are a ton of them out there. I recommend only using a couple so they actually remember what to say back. One fun example is you say, "Holy moly!" and your kids say, "Guacamole!"<br /><br />I talked about this in my popular <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/04/classroom-management-strategies.html" target="_blank">20 Classroom Management Strategies You Can Start Right Away</a> blog post - change your voice so they have to match it! It keeps the call backs exciting. For example, say holy moly in a squeaky high pitched voice and they have to say guacamole back in the same type of squeaky high pitched voice. You can change your pitch (high/low), tone (sassy, angry, excited, etc.), speed (say it really fast, draaaaag out every word) for a ton of variety!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">18. The Singing Trick</span><br />When you want to get their attention, just start singing a song they know. It can be a well known kids' song, a holiday song, or even a popular song they like from the radio. If you start singing, they know to join in. They also know to look at you because you're going to end the song at any moment with "the signal" and they don't want to be caught singing by themselves. :) The signal to abruptly stop singing is you put quickly both hands up on either side of your face shoulder width apart. If they see this, they immediately stop singing and do it too. When everyone's hands are up, they copy your motions as you bring your 2 palms together in front of your face, lock your fingers, and bring your folded hands down to your lap. Also put a marshmallow in your mouth for them to copy as you do this. Now they're ready to listen! I love it because you can't sing and talk at the same time so it brings all conversations to an immediate halt in a fun way.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">19. Teach them silent signals to kindly ask classmates to be quiet.</span><br />Peer pressure works wonders. A lot of the strategies I've mentioned work well because the kids help each other be quiet. Make sure they're doing it <i>kindly</i> by teaching them quiet signals. It's not nice to "Shh!" someone but you can give them a silent signal to refocus them. Teach them that if someone talks to them during quiet time to hold their pointer finger up to their lips in the "quiet" signal then point to what they're focusing on. So, if the teacher is talking, they would put their finger to their lip then use it to quickly point to the teacher. This will tell the person trying to disturb them to stop <i>and</i>&nbsp;remind them where they should be looking. If they're supposed to be silently working on their classwork, they do the "quiet" signal with their finger then use it to point to their work. If kids know that's what they're supposed to do, they won't think it's "mean" when kids do it to them; instead, it'll remind them what they should be focused on. Young kids want to be accepted so they're way more likely to listen to a peer tell them to be quiet than you. Also explain to them that if someone is talking TO you and you're not stopping it with a quiet signal, you're just as guilty as the talker. If they do the quiet signal to someone twice in a row and the person keeps talking to them, then they must REPORT that to you. (To read my post explaining tattling vs. reporting: <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/01/how-to-tackle-tattling-in-classroom.html" target="_blank">How to Tackle Tattling</a>) Then, the talker also knows that they will for sure be in trouble if they don't listen to their friend's quiet signal.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">20. Privacy Folders</span><br />Sometimes there are kids who just constantly need to chat at their seats. If someone has to report to you multiple times that they're being bothered, have them use a privacy folder. Each kid should have an <b>empty</b> simple 2-pocket folder that they can pull out to stand up on their desk to work inside of. The folders will stand up on their own when they're empty. I totally recommend using them for tests so kids can't look at each other's work. Kids keep them in an easily accessible place so if they just keep talking when you've asked them to be quiet, say, "I guess we need our privacy folders" and have them all put up their folders. I recommend letting kids know they can pull them out on their own when they really want to focus and/or someone is distracting them. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">21. Flexible Seating</span><br />You've probably heard about flexible seating all over the place recently. It's a huge trend this year taking over classrooms and many teachers swear by it for behavior management. Have alternative seating options students can use or go to during the day to work at. Some people have switched completely to alternative seating and some teachers just have a few options for places kids can go. Here is a <a href="http://www.teacherslovelists.com/flexible-seating-classroom-ideas-and-seating-options/" target="_blank">huge list of flexible seating options and ideas</a> if you're interested in trying it out!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">22. The "Blurts Hurt" Lesson</span><br />So this may sound crazy but give an interrupting lesson to teach empathy and how "blurts hurt."<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qaG0pwC49Nw/WApeHn-l5bI/AAAAAAAADq8/lm8S7U6pqSAbKLem4D1Oa9XtPuweGM9GwCLcB/s1600/Blurting%2Bkids%2Bclassroom%2Bmanagement%2Bposter.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Blurts Hurt poster - click to read instructions on how to teach a meaningful lesson on interrupting (25 Easy Tips to Queit a Chatty Class) " border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qaG0pwC49Nw/WApeHn-l5bI/AAAAAAAADq8/lm8S7U6pqSAbKLem4D1Oa9XtPuweGM9GwCLcB/s320/Blurting%2Bkids%2Bclassroom%2Bmanagement%2Bposter.PNG" title="Blurts Hurt poster - click to read instructions on how to teach a meaningful lesson on interrupting (25 Easy Tips to Queit a Chatty Class) " width="240" /></a></div><br />Kids may not realize how it actually hurts you when they interrupt you. They just think you're telling them to be quiet because it's a rule but may not realize that they're not being a good friend to you. Building classroom community is important and you, as their teacher, are a part of it just like they are. First, bring them to the carpet. Then, start by telling them how blurts hurt and when they interrupt you or talk when you're talking, it makes you feel sad. Then, ask them a really fun open ended question that will get them talking if you call on them like, "If you could have 3 brand new toys, what would they be?" or "If you were the principal, what would you do?" Let them think about it for a second and raise their hands. Let's say you ask what superpower they would have and why.<br /><br />Call on someone. When they get 3-5 words into their sentence, loudly exclaim, "I'd love to be able to see through walls so I could sneak up on my friends!" to interrupt them then quickly say, "Anyone else want to share?" They'll raise their hands, call on a new kid. When they get about 3-5 words into their sentence, start a random conversation with the kid closest to you on the rug, "I got a puppy yesterday. We named him Jim." Do it a couple more times (keep it light so they think it's funny) then say, "That wasn't very nice of me to not listen to my friends, huh? How do you think it made them feel when I interrupted them or didn't listen?" to start a conversation about what it feels like when someone doesn't listen to <i>you</i> when you're talking and why it's important to be a kind listener. Of course don't interrupt them during this share or again. Sometimes I think it's important to remind students that WE are humans with feelings too and the way they act can hurt our feelings.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">23. Have a lot of hands on activities.</span><br />If you read my blog, you know I have A TON of <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Miss-Giraffe" target="_blank">hands on resources in my TpT store</a> for math and reading. You can read blog posts to see my math centers and activities in action by clicking on the math concept you want to see (place value, fractions, telling time, composing shapes, fact fluency, making a 10 to add, etc.) on my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/math.html" target="_blank">MATH page</a>. I also think it's great to have fun activities like <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/04/sight-words-practice-with-magnet-letters.html" target="_blank">Secret Sight Words cards</a> they can do when they're done with their work so they don't bother their friends who are still working.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">24. Give them time to socialize first thing in the morning.</span><br />Give them about&nbsp;<b>20 minutes</b>&nbsp;first thing in the morning to play and socialize with their friends. I know, I know. It might get crazy and loud while you're trying to take attendance. Your principal might walk in and see "unfocused" kids&nbsp;<i>playing</i>&nbsp;(gasp!)&nbsp;first thing in the morning. It's a waste of instructional time they could be doing "morning work." Play and building social skills isn't a waste in my opinion but that's a whole other blog post. :)<br /><br />When your kids come in first thing in the morning, they have a million things on the tip of their tongues that they want to share with their friends (They lost a tooth last night! They went to a baseball game last night! Their little brother did something funny this morning!) and also&nbsp;<i>just</i>&nbsp;came in from before-school recess. It's hard to go from 60 to 0, from running outside at recess to coming in to a quiet classroom, especially when all you want to do is talk to your friends. They also may have just had breakfast because they were running late (not their fault) then had to rush to class and didn't get to play at all. They may have just had a "fight" with a friend on the playground where someone wasn't very nice to them that they're still upset about. Having some structured play time first thing in the morning to let them&nbsp;<i>decompress</i>&nbsp;and socialize positively with their friends is an&nbsp;<i>awesome</i>&nbsp;way to start the day. It will make them look forward to coming to school and getting to class on time.<br /><br />Have clear expectations and rules.<br /><br />Kids come in, put away their things,&nbsp;<a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/09/graphing-and-data-analysis-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">do their daily graphing question</a>, and pick a table to work at.<br /><br />Each table has a different activity like:<br />-&nbsp;<a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/04/composing-shapes-in-1st-grade.html" target="_blank">Fun Pattern Block activities</a><br />-&nbsp;<a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/06/bottle-cap-cvc-word-building-centers.html" target="_blank">Bottle cap word building activities</a><br />- Educational board games (anything involving dice is educational in my opinion)<br />- Any math or literacy centers they loved during the year but have since been put away<br /><br />Once they pick a table, that is their table for the entire morning time. There is no moving tables. First come, first serve.<br /><br />This is another time the voice level chart I talked about above comes into play. They HAVE to use the level it says (I recommend Level 2 or 3) or they lose the privilege. Encourage them to talk though! Don't make it have to be super quiet inside voices, that's no fun and won't get their crazy out. They need this time to socialize like they would on the playground.<br /><br />It also gives&nbsp;<i>you</i>&nbsp;time to do attendance, lunch count, and anything else you need to do first thing in the morning. Let them know it's a rule that they cannot talk to you during this play time because, just like it's their time, it's also your time to prepare for the day. If they need to turn something in or bring you something, they simply place it in your "INBOX" and go to their morning tubs. If they need to tell you something their parents told them to tell you, they know to write it down on a piece of scratch paper (always have scratch paper available somewhere for your kids) and put it in your inbox. It'll be inventive spelling and that's okay. If they are super reluctant writers or you teach pre-K or K, tell them to just write their name on a notepad and put it in your inbox so you remember to ask them about it. Be firm that there is absolutely no talking to you during this time. If they come up to you, point to the scratch paper. This will also allow&nbsp;<i>you</i>&nbsp;to decompress and start the day positive. In my opinion, you get a lot more done when you start the day this way because the kids aren't all wound up.<br /><br />If you're wondering how to justify it to yourself or your principal since there's already so little time to fit everything in during the day (or at least that's the perception), the tubs at each table are educational so it's really just another small round of centers, NOT uneducational free time... and it's only 20 minutes. How much do those little morning work sheets actually teach them anyway? Aren't they really just something to keep them quiet? Why? Let them review in a fun way instead and start the day off positively. :)<br /><br />When it's time to start the day, give them a 5 minute warning so they can start mentally preparing for play time to be over. When it's been 20 minutes, calmly let them know it's time to clean up. They should know to do this quickly and quietly if they want to keep the morning play time privilege.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">25. Play "Quietest Line"</span><br />If you're having an issue with your kids talking in line when you're walking somewhere, split the line up into 2 lines next to each other and have a "Quiet Line" competition. Kids love being first, especially if you're walking to lunch or recess or another fun activity they want to get to as soon as possible. Tell kids you're looking for the quietest line. Whenever you arrive at your destination, that line gets to go first. If they were both absolutely silent, let the first line go then the second line right after. However, if there WAS redirection, hold the 2nd line back for a little while after the 1st line (the quietest line) has already gone. Even if it's just 30 seconds or a minute, they will not like seeing their friends run off onto the playground while they're still standing there.<br /><br />To really make it effective, you can hold up both your hands on either side of your face while facing your 2 lines and walking backwards down the hall to do the 5 finger game with them. How many fingers you're holding up is the amount of points for that line. If someone in the line on the right talks, you put down a finger on your right hand (the hand closest to that line). If someone in the line on the left talks, you'd put down a finger on the left hand. This is an easy way to keep score and they will be so focused on your hands that they'll forget to talk anyway.<br /><br /><br />Alright! That's a lot of strategies! :) I hope you found some that can work for your class to try out. Let me know in the comments if you tried any of these and how they worked! Also let me know if you do any of these currently and if they work for you. Classroom management can be tough but it's key and there are so many little tricks that can make the school days easier. I really hope some of these were helpful for you!<br /><br />If you want the voice level chart and posters, "Blurt Beans" label, student vs. teacher 10 frames, blurt alert forms, blurt dessert cards, blurts hurt poster, and all that fun stuff, they're in my:<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chatty-Class-Classroom-Management-Tools-for-Talkative-Students-2841044" target="_blank">Chatty Class Classroom Management Pack</a></span><br /><br />&nbsp;As always, thank you for reading my rambling! I know my blog posts are long but I always want to pack as much info in as I can to help!<br /><br /><div><span style="font-size: large;">I'd love if you took a moment to follow me on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/themissgiraffe/pins/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/MissGiraffesClass/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/missgiraffesclass/" target="_blank">IG</a>&nbsp;for more fun ideas like this. Thanks!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Check out these other fun posts:</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/03/phonics-fluency-notebooks.html" target="_blank">Phonics Fluency Notebooks</a></span></div><div><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/10/cvc-words-roll.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">CVC Words Roll</span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/09/short-activities-and-resources.html" target="_blank">Short A Activities &amp; Resources</a>&nbsp;(has a TON of ideas for short vowels centers and activities that could be used for any phonics sound)</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/07/building-number-sense-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">Building Number Sense in First Grade</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/fact-fluency-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">Fact Fluency in First Grade</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/11/tips-for-building-reading-fluency.html" target="_blank">Tips for Building Reading Fluency</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/09/secret-sight-words-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Secret Sight Words</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/05/writing-crafts-that-are-no-prep.html" target="_blank">Writing Crafts that are NO PREP... Seriously!</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Also - don't forget to join&nbsp;<a href="http://eepurl.com/1WAO9" target="_blank">Miss Giraffe's Class</a>&nbsp;so you never miss out on fun ideas and exclusive&nbsp;<b>free stuff</b>&nbsp;from me only for subscribers!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Please feel free to pin any images from this post onto Pinterest to save them.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Hover over the picture so the pinterest button pops up &amp; click on it to pin it to your boards! :)&nbsp;</span><span style="font-size: large;">Here's some more!&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ck_5lkK_G5c/WAl2wbUbYlI/AAAAAAAADqo/exrvu6G8wJoUnCAkFaTo4QG-FxcyeqQngCLcB/s1600/25%2BTips%2Bto%2BGet%2Ba%2BTalkative%2BClass%2BUnder%2BControl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="25 Chatty Class Classroom Management Tips that are quick and easy to get an overly talkative class under control" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ck_5lkK_G5c/WAl2wbUbYlI/AAAAAAAADqo/exrvu6G8wJoUnCAkFaTo4QG-FxcyeqQngCLcB/s640/25%2BTips%2Bto%2BGet%2Ba%2BTalkative%2BClass%2BUnder%2BControl.jpg" title="25 Chatty Class Classroom Management Tips that are quick and easy to get an overly talkative class under control" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Here's another one!</div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_SFG8TQU950/WAl2q7JedtI/AAAAAAAADqk/atVhA7Eh4oEdNWgBTO0TFpM7gcYAsEeiwCLcB/s1600/Blurt%2BBeans%2BJars.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chatty class? Blurt beans will save your sanity! Complete directions for how to implement this positive behavior management system in your class tomorrow!" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_SFG8TQU950/WAl2q7JedtI/AAAAAAAADqk/atVhA7Eh4oEdNWgBTO0TFpM7gcYAsEeiwCLcB/s640/Blurt%2BBeans%2BJars.JPG" title="Chatty class? Blurt beans will save your sanity! Complete directions for how to implement this positive behavior management system in your class tomorrow!" width="480" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Happy teaching!</span></div></div><br /></div>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-82113632046110451972016-09-09T16:10:00.000-07:002017-12-01T11:23:50.441-07:00Graphing and Data Analysis in First GradeGraphing and Data Analysis in first grade can seem daunting but it is actually a really fun math concept because it is so visual. Kids "get it" pretty easily and graphing activities allow them to share things about themselves so they love it.<br /><div><br /></div><div>This post is going to be long like all my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/math.html" target="_blank">math posts</a> but I promise there's good info here so keep reading for a lot of fun graphing activities and ideas! :)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>My favorite way to introduce graphing is with whole group graphing on the pocket chart with questions kids answer each day. I have a bunch of different question cards with category (answer) cards to go with them so you just set up the question at the top of the pocket chart and the categories at the bottom each morning.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V29CiAacNl4/V9MYZBGHXwI/AAAAAAAADgI/j3SJcshlsm4Hq4jdlAxj2iP6LoXw9eJjgCLcB/s1600/Whole%2BGroup%2BGraphing%2B-%2BZoo%2BAnimals%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Daily graphing question: put the question at the top of the pocket chart and categories at the bottom and kids put their name card above it to build a bar graph. Easy way to incorporate graphing into your calendar! Lots of great math talk ideas too" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V29CiAacNl4/V9MYZBGHXwI/AAAAAAAADgI/j3SJcshlsm4Hq4jdlAxj2iP6LoXw9eJjgCLcB/s640/Whole%2BGroup%2BGraphing%2B-%2BZoo%2BAnimals%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Daily graphing question: put the question at the top of the pocket chart and categories at the bottom and kids put their name card above it to build a bar graph. Easy way to incorporate graphing into your calendar! Lots of great math talk ideas too" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Then, kids come in and answer the question by taking their card they made for themselves and putting it above the category. I <i>love</i>&nbsp;these little kid cards. I made several different variations for boys and girls so they can pick the one that they think looks most like them, color it to look like them, and write their name on it. They only do it once then use that card for all the whole group graphing activities you do during the year!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vpF8Mw3g0SE/V9MYjlxaPXI/AAAAAAAADgM/pRML0HyKU5M2fVMiEbvKdXmYpHKBnUNmwCLcB/s1600/Whole%2BGroup%2BGraphing%2BKids.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vpF8Mw3g0SE/V9MYjlxaPXI/AAAAAAAADgM/pRML0HyKU5M2fVMiEbvKdXmYpHKBnUNmwCLcB/s640/Whole%2BGroup%2BGraphing%2BKids.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>One way I love to use this is as an attendance activity! When they come inside in the morning, they put away their stuff then go get their card to answer the question. It's a quick way to check attendance (just look at which cards weren't used), answer the graphing question, then get back to their morning work. It takes up pretty much no instructional time and gives them a task to do immediately when coming in which is great!&nbsp;</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HuQyTF2ET6s/V9MaZIe4fWI/AAAAAAAADgQ/4_PtGJH7t3oZKLtQvXxEObDN7Ct_GD_1gCLcB/s1600/Whole%2BGroup%2BGraphing%2B-%2BZoo%2BAnimals%2B%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HuQyTF2ET6s/V9MaZIe4fWI/AAAAAAAADgQ/4_PtGJH7t3oZKLtQvXxEObDN7Ct_GD_1gCLcB/s640/Whole%2BGroup%2BGraphing%2B-%2BZoo%2BAnimals%2B%25286%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>At calendar or whole group math time, you can go over the results and analyze the data. You could also do the questions and kids putting in the answers during your lesson too. It can be such a quick activity that doesn't take up a lot of your instructional time but gives so much practice with graphing.&nbsp;</div><div>Ask questions like, "How many people picked _____?" "Which ____ do the least of you like?" "Which ____ do the most of us like?"&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>After about a week, start throwing in questions like "How many of us like ____ or ____ the most?" "How many more of you liked ____ than ____?" to start introducing those concepts. It's so much easier to explain it and for them to "get it" in this context than with pencil and paper later!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YUUoq76YoAk/V9MdE48WmJI/AAAAAAAADgY/9UAaIAcMexAYZAr2UkeLf3shy8ptk3FRwCLcB/s1600/Whole%2BGroup%2BGraphing%2B-%2BFavorite%2BTreat%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YUUoq76YoAk/V9MdE48WmJI/AAAAAAAADgY/9UAaIAcMexAYZAr2UkeLf3shy8ptk3FRwCLcB/s640/Whole%2BGroup%2BGraphing%2B-%2BFavorite%2BTreat%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>I made 27 different questions for almost a month worth of daily graphing practice. I tried to make them fun like what kind of superpower would you want or what would you do as principal. :) Most of the questions have 6 categories to choose from. You can use all 6 or just do 3 or 4 at a time or however you want to do it. There are a lot of ways to use them!<br /><br />Kids <i>love</i>&nbsp;talking about themselves and sharing things so I love this activity for that purpose. Every single day, they get to share something about themselves through this activity and feel included in the lesson. It's a great way to get to know your kids! If you have a few extra minutes in your lesson, have them tell the person next to them on the carpet what category they picked and why, then pick a few kids to share with everyone. It's truly a classroom bonding experience the kids love. You can also have them talk to their partners about what they notice about the graph which is an AWESOME opportunity to get them to use math talk - model some observations for them ("I notice the <b>most</b>&nbsp;people like ice cream. What do you notice?" "I noticed that the <b>least</b> amount of people liked donuts.") Once they get good at it, you can even have them ask each other questions like, "How many people liked cake the most?"). It's using THEM and their friends as data about what THEY like so trust me, they're engaged and want to talk about it. :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NsM9crrQd3E/V9MeXGJj7JI/AAAAAAAADgg/xiK-AB_KK40r1OSIEuBJL2KxCNlhYI8uQCLcB/s1600/Whole%2BGroup%2BGraphing%2B-%2BPrincipal%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NsM9crrQd3E/V9MeXGJj7JI/AAAAAAAADgg/xiK-AB_KK40r1OSIEuBJL2KxCNlhYI8uQCLcB/s640/Whole%2BGroup%2BGraphing%2B-%2BPrincipal%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I actually recommend doing the daily graphing a few weeks <b>before</b> you actually start your graphing unit so they'll have a ton of exposure and practice to graphing and answering questions beforehand and, like I said, it can be a quick thing during calendar or before your whole group lesson to analyze the data in the graph.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Once you are ready to teach graphing, they will be all warmed up and know how to read and answer questions about graphs!<br /><br /><br /><h3>Bar Graphs</h3></div><div>The first step is to have them create their own bar graph using data. Give them a Level A (the level of my worksheets can always be found in the star in the upper right corner of pages) worksheet that has them look at the pictures and color in the bar graph to show how many of each.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UK0RjUB98Gg/V9Me4wRwRzI/AAAAAAAADgk/_AxsLZwYvS0hzGpNI1i8pi2nlQIlTMn7gCLcB/s1600/Bar%2BGraphs%2BWorksheet%2BEasy%2BInsects%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UK0RjUB98Gg/V9Me4wRwRzI/AAAAAAAADgk/_AxsLZwYvS0hzGpNI1i8pi2nlQIlTMn7gCLcB/s640/Bar%2BGraphs%2BWorksheet%2BEasy%2BInsects%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>I recommend having them color in each insect a different color then use that color to color in the bar graph. This will help them easily see and interpret their data which will help them when they start answering questions about their graphs later on.</div><div><br /></div><div>I also recommend doing a simple worksheet like this for both vertical and horizontal bar graphs so they see that the graph can go either way.</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uQaOGN9RIbg/V9MfFVQNqNI/AAAAAAAADgo/7AuF-HhhhtIjiSgdhqIeQIb_N2bVZdUsgCLcB/s1600/Bar%2BGraphs%2BWorksheet%2BEasy%2BPets.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uQaOGN9RIbg/V9MfFVQNqNI/AAAAAAAADgo/7AuF-HhhhtIjiSgdhqIeQIb_N2bVZdUsgCLcB/s640/Bar%2BGraphs%2BWorksheet%2BEasy%2BPets.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>As you can see, graphing the insects was a horizontal bar graph and pet shop pets is a vertical bar graph so students can see that both orientations can be used to display data. I think it's important for them to see all the ways graphs are represented so when they encounter them, they know what to do.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-meUkkrbVjS4/V9MfOTO6t9I/AAAAAAAADgs/QniidH5W-WkLertYAINnyn0-oszYcvdEgCLcB/s1600/Ocean%2BBar%2BGraphs%2BWorksheets%2Bh%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-meUkkrbVjS4/V9MfOTO6t9I/AAAAAAAADgs/QniidH5W-WkLertYAINnyn0-oszYcvdEgCLcB/s640/Ocean%2BBar%2BGraphs%2BWorksheets%2Bh%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /><h3>Data Analysis</h3></div><div>Okay, so now they're ready to add the skill of analyzing their graphs!</div><div><br /></div><div>Give your students who struggle the Level A worksheet to create their bar graph like they've done before. <i>Then, </i>they write how many of each ocean animal they saw on their sheet. Last, they answer the question by coloring in the ocean animal they saw the most.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5XxGFT5p6fE/V9Mf82yJ0eI/AAAAAAAADgw/gchPzstU170RrcIWKks76eNsXzzVHFccwCLcB/s1600/Ocean%2BBar%2BGraphs%2BWorksheet%2BLevel%2BA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5XxGFT5p6fE/V9Mf82yJ0eI/AAAAAAAADgw/gchPzstU170RrcIWKks76eNsXzzVHFccwCLcB/s640/Ocean%2BBar%2BGraphs%2BWorksheet%2BLevel%2BA.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>For your on level kids, give the 2 Level B worksheets (notice the B in the star in the top right corner). The first sheet has them tally how many of each animal they saw then create a bar graph using that data.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDXRMkIRJo0/V9MgIYomPlI/AAAAAAAADg0/mM6Zum71WAkoH_gvsTwYSCjfoFBZuT6CgCLcB/s1600/Ocean%2BBar%2BGraphs%2BWorksheet%2BLevel%2BB%2Bh.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZDXRMkIRJo0/V9MgIYomPlI/AAAAAAAADg0/mM6Zum71WAkoH_gvsTwYSCjfoFBZuT6CgCLcB/s640/Ocean%2BBar%2BGraphs%2BWorksheet%2BLevel%2BB%2Bh.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>THEN, they also get a question sheet. Hopefully you've practiced these types of questions in the whole group graphing pocket chart activities I showed above so that they're familiar with the vocabulary and types of questions that are asked about graphs. That's why I recommend doing it for a few weeks <i>before</i>&nbsp;starting your graphing unit. It's okay if you didn't and need to teach graphing now, though! Just do a few of the questions whole group to introduce the vocabulary and question types with the visuals. It's so much easier with visuals!</div><div><br /></div><div>For your high kids, challenge them with the Level C questions sheet! As you probably know from my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/03/how-to-keep-gifted-students-engaged-and.html" target="_blank">How to Keep Gifted Kids Engaged and Learning</a> post, I'm really passionate about differentiation and making sure all kids feel challenged but in fun ways!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HeDvC_1Ol8E/V9Mgv2c9GdI/AAAAAAAADg4/aQ-kNwLd9_gQgfm1PzJSEQ3BtvgZ4XmvACLcB/s1600/Ocean%2BBar%2BGraphs%2BWorksheet%2BLevel%2BC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HeDvC_1Ol8E/V9Mgv2c9GdI/AAAAAAAADg4/aQ-kNwLd9_gQgfm1PzJSEQ3BtvgZ4XmvACLcB/s640/Ocean%2BBar%2BGraphs%2BWorksheet%2BLevel%2BC.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />As you can see, the Level C (note the star in the corner) worksheet asks a lot more questions they have to think about to answer but uses the same data as the Level B sheet. When you differentiate for your higher (or lower) kids, you want the activities to be the same so they feel connected to the lesson and to their peers and don't feel "different." That's why I always try to provide the same activity but alter the levels so everyone can take part and feel challenged at their own level.</div><div><br /></div><div>You could also start all of the kids off with the A worksheets, work up to B together, then do C together to scaffold the learning. Working your way up with each level can get even your most struggling kids to be successful with the higher level thinking questions and concepts.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Okay so now it's time for the fun stuff - math centers!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Heads or Tails is an easy center! Simply give kids a penny, have them flip it and color in a box for the side that won. They keep flipping and coloring until one of the sides gets to the top. Once heads or tails reaches the top of their bar graph and "wins," they answer the 2 questions. Easy! You can laminate the mat and have them do it over and over.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-At2WcbfONs4/V9Mhqxu3DlI/AAAAAAAADg8/BsUtZDKcrMY4DlAkYlW-vwSNPanmr77dACLcB/s1600/Bar%2BGraphing%2BMath%2BStation%2B-%2BHeads%2Bor%2BTails.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-At2WcbfONs4/V9Mhqxu3DlI/AAAAAAAADg8/BsUtZDKcrMY4DlAkYlW-vwSNPanmr77dACLcB/s640/Bar%2BGraphing%2BMath%2BStation%2B-%2BHeads%2Bor%2BTails.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>You can also have it be a partner game. Have one kid pick heads and one kid pick tails then take turns flipping to see who wins.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Another fun center I love is Grab Sort Graph!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tOpcNkfBUM0/V9MiOtUm6aI/AAAAAAAADhE/cFXYX8gL9Bw5pR7u3IH6Y7RjOiN_bh4SwCLcB/s1600/Grab%2BSort%2BGraph%2BMath%2BCenter%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tOpcNkfBUM0/V9MiOtUm6aI/AAAAAAAADhE/cFXYX8gL9Bw5pR7u3IH6Y7RjOiN_bh4SwCLcB/s640/Grab%2BSort%2BGraph%2BMath%2BCenter%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Put 21 cubes in 3 different colors (7 of each color) into a tub. Kids close their eyes and grab a handful (or 2 handfuls if they have really small hands) of cubes and drop them on the table.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then, they sort the cubes into piles by color and connect them to make a vertical bar graph. I laid them down for the picture but kids love making them into bar graph towers! Then, they color in the bar graph on their paper to show what they grabbed.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>There's an optional graphing questions worksheet to go along with it too that they can fill out about one, or both (copy it double-sided), of their grabs.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BaIQdNf25ro/V9MiGo2ytHI/AAAAAAAADhA/tHwq9UC8_N02-J4nrW_YXv6bAIq9fNqXACLcB/s1600/Grab%2BSort%2BGraph%2BMath%2BCenter%2B%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BaIQdNf25ro/V9MiGo2ytHI/AAAAAAAADhA/tHwq9UC8_N02-J4nrW_YXv6bAIq9fNqXACLcB/s640/Grab%2BSort%2BGraph%2BMath%2BCenter%2B%25284%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It wouldn't be one of <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/08/first-grade-math-ideas-for-entire-year.html" target="_blank">my math units</a> without some cut and pastes! You know me, I find a way to make every math concept into a cut and paste activity. :)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j78Z99QJxG4/V9Mi6XLS1_I/AAAAAAAADhM/sTk4AXIdXRE2PgnNnPkbEjVkXn5AbxJJwCLcB/s1600/Creating%2Ba%2BBar%2BGraph%2BCut%2BPaste.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j78Z99QJxG4/V9Mi6XLS1_I/AAAAAAAADhM/sTk4AXIdXRE2PgnNnPkbEjVkXn5AbxJJwCLcB/s640/Creating%2Ba%2BBar%2BGraph%2BCut%2BPaste.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>I think it's important for kids to be able to make a bar graph so for the cut and pastes like this, they put the title where it is supposed to go and each category in the right place based on the data provided. For example, the data box shows 3 ants so they'd put the ant under the bar graph category with 3 colored in. It's a great assessment to see who understands what the graph actually means.</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of labeling a graph, it's also important that they also know the components of a graph so we practice that too.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zbTt6SR4bvo/V9Miwm186jI/AAAAAAAADhI/7v_M3341-UIXiP_5-sotogphoYli486VwCLcB/s1600/Labeling%2Ba%2BGraph%2BWorksheet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zbTt6SR4bvo/V9Miwm186jI/AAAAAAAADhI/7v_M3341-UIXiP_5-sotogphoYli486VwCLcB/s640/Labeling%2Ba%2BGraph%2BWorksheet.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I also recommend hanging up posters or anchor charts as reference!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eNZ52_EvqP8/V9MTYQf-P3I/AAAAAAAADfw/JR3mCT0t98s4LjANXVNz2wjhmCSg8Oq0gCLcB/s1600/Poster%2BParts%2Bof%2Ba%2BGraph.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Parts of a Graph Poster for the classroom to identify the title data and labels on a graph" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eNZ52_EvqP8/V9MTYQf-P3I/AAAAAAAADfw/JR3mCT0t98s4LjANXVNz2wjhmCSg8Oq0gCLcB/s640/Poster%2BParts%2Bof%2Ba%2BGraph.JPG" title="Parts of a Graph Poster for the classroom to identify the title data and labels on a graph" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h3>How Many More</h3>Speaking of anchor charts, <b>how many more</b>&nbsp;can be such a difficult concept for kids that I recommend making some sort of anchor chart to remind them what it means.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>In my opinion, one of the hardest graphing questions that kids struggle with are the "How many More?" questions. This question stumps even the brightest kids but if they understand exactly WHAT it's asking, it can become easy for them. How many more often sounds to them like they need to just add the 2 numbers together.<br /><br />So how do you teach it??<br />In small groups, let 2 kids be your examples. Give one kid (Ava) 8 red cubes and another kid (Jack) 5 blue cubes. Say how many does Ava have? 8. How many does Jack have? 5. Okay so now we want to figure out how many MORE Ava has than Jack. Have Ava and Jack link their cubes together in sets of 2 (1 red and 1 blue from each) until Jack runs out of cubes. Then say, "See? Ava still has some left over. So HOW MANY MORE cubes does Ava have than Jack? Let's count them!" and count how many cubes Ava has leftover to show them the concept.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nlvgsMkq2HE/V9RIkUVQj9I/AAAAAAAADjk/w8DSKOdkXvYmg_P5CIlkOFJUoAuFnnNjQCLcB/s1600/How%2BMany%2BMore%2BGraphing%2BQuestion%2BSmall%2BGroup%2BActivity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Simple directions for how to teach how many more" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nlvgsMkq2HE/V9RIkUVQj9I/AAAAAAAADjk/w8DSKOdkXvYmg_P5CIlkOFJUoAuFnnNjQCLcB/s640/How%2BMany%2BMore%2BGraphing%2BQuestion%2BSmall%2BGroup%2BActivity.jpg" title="Simple directions for how to teach how many more" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><div>This simple small group activity will help them understand what it's asking when it wants to know how many more. Do it a couple times with different amounts until every kid at your small groups table has had a chance to practice. You can also throw in "How many <i>less</i>&nbsp;did Jack have than Ava?" to use that vocabulary as well if you think they're ready.<br /><br />I also like to have a few worksheets to assess with paper and pencil so they see the question being asked. Have them circle the sets (or draw lines to connect them) to figure out how many are leftover.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uAocMLgzEsg/V9MmBEP3xUI/AAAAAAAADhg/krNIBiiauLEa5H80phMfzbdVEdcJstHdACLcB/s1600/How%2BMany%2BMore%2BWorksheet%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uAocMLgzEsg/V9MmBEP3xUI/AAAAAAAADhg/krNIBiiauLEa5H80phMfzbdVEdcJstHdACLcB/s640/How%2BMany%2BMore%2BWorksheet%2B2.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div>Since they are basically bar graph masters at this point, let's try some <b>REVERSE graphing</b>!</div><div><br /></div><div>Now <i>they</i>&nbsp;are the ones creating the data!</div><div><br /></div><div>Give them this shapes data and ask them to draw a picture that makes the data true. In the box, they'd draw 5 circles, 2 rectangles, 4 triangles, and 6 squares. Simple enough, right?&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bV9QgBJ91r0/V9MlC2jooxI/AAAAAAAADhY/9q5o0C7yh9MAm2jmF3zoTP_AX4MUcvyrQCLcB/s1600/Reverse%2BGraphing%2BWorksheet%2BShapes%2BData.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bV9QgBJ91r0/V9MlC2jooxI/AAAAAAAADhY/9q5o0C7yh9MAm2jmF3zoTP_AX4MUcvyrQCLcB/s400/Reverse%2BGraphing%2BWorksheet%2BShapes%2BData.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So now give them this bag of candies and tell them color it in based on the data.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NQK7rCG7cWs/V9MUkf0NgCI/AAAAAAAADf4/s_bA8uRMox0p6mlAwTGTCem09HPgccKrgCLcB/s1600/Reverse%2BGraphing%2BWorksheet%2BCandy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NQK7rCG7cWs/V9MUkf0NgCI/AAAAAAAADf4/s_bA8uRMox0p6mlAwTGTCem09HPgccKrgCLcB/s640/Reverse%2BGraphing%2BWorksheet%2BCandy.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Then have them try coloring in apples on an apple tree using - wait, what are those?! Tallies!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kT1PtOrR1gM/V9MUrkLaHVI/AAAAAAAADf8/LXBRyZlGnckXdC9Bf3gaipNPLpEKlofIwCLcB/s1600/Reverse%2BGraphing%2BWorksheet%2BApples.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kT1PtOrR1gM/V9MUrkLaHVI/AAAAAAAADf8/LXBRyZlGnckXdC9Bf3gaipNPLpEKlofIwCLcB/s640/Reverse%2BGraphing%2BWorksheet%2BApples.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /><h3>Tally Marks and Tally Charts</h3></div><div>I love tallies! Tally charts are a lot of fun because they are so simple. You've probable used them without even thinking on your whiteboard to do Table Points or play Students vs. Teacher (I show both of these classroom management ideas and a bunch more in this post: <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/04/classroom-management-strategies.html" target="_blank">20 Classroom Management Strategies You Can Start Right Away</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div>I like introducing them with pretzel sticks! Kids love food.<br />Food = Awesome. Food + Math = Still Food = Still Awesome.</div><div><br /></div><div>Give each kid a handful of pretzel sticks and tell them they can eat them once they're done but not to eat them yet or they won't be able to build all the numbers. :) Lead them into setting out 1 pretzel stick to make 1, make 2, 3, 4, and then show them how to slant the 5th across the first 4. Then, show how you leave a little space to start a new set of 5. Build each number to 10 together. Walk around to make sure they're doing it right. &nbsp;Then, have them clear their space and tell them random numbers to 10 to build then walk around to assess to make sure they build the numbers correctly. Easy, fun, yummy lesson!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MgPEsn8j4V0/V9MU0XUQgyI/AAAAAAAADgA/pnkopAt3mbQ98soeXABxnVwSLIz1XHh7wCLcB/s1600/Tally%2BMark%2BLesson%2BPretzel%2BSticks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teaching tally marks with pretzel sticks and other fun tallies and tally chart activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MgPEsn8j4V0/V9MU0XUQgyI/AAAAAAAADgA/pnkopAt3mbQ98soeXABxnVwSLIz1XHh7wCLcB/s640/Tally%2BMark%2BLesson%2BPretzel%2BSticks.JPG" title="Teaching tally marks with pretzel sticks and other fun tallies and tally chart activities" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>You can also create bigger numbers with more pretzel sticks if you want to practice counting sets of tallies by 5s and such.<br /><br /></div><div>The Tally Mark Kids math center is a really easy center for kids to review reading tally marks with numbers to 10. They simply look at the tally marks the kids are holding and write the number on their recording sheet.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SU3NVI7h6nc/V9MlvnX7cBI/AAAAAAAADhc/wh-gaVmp0_Qz2BV8ZbqDn5yWjCBenR4GACLcB/s1600/Tally%2BMark%2BKids%2BMath%2BCenter%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tally marks centers and activities to teach counting tallies" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SU3NVI7h6nc/V9MlvnX7cBI/AAAAAAAADhc/wh-gaVmp0_Qz2BV8ZbqDn5yWjCBenR4GACLcB/s640/Tally%2BMark%2BKids%2BMath%2BCenter%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Tally marks centers and activities to teach counting tallies" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Another center to practice counting tallies are the glitter tallies puzzles. These practice tallying numbers to 30 where kids simply match the tallies to the number. This is a good time to remind kids that they can count tallies quickly by counting by 5s.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NJYyVn_ZfBA/V9MmnD-KlwI/AAAAAAAADhk/--JWZD8KJag4otX6TasEjsRzuHUp2JibwCLcB/s1600/Tally%2BMarks%2BPuzzles%2BMath%2BCenter%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tallies puzzles to teach how to count tally marks and other fun graphing activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NJYyVn_ZfBA/V9MmnD-KlwI/AAAAAAAADhk/--JWZD8KJag4otX6TasEjsRzuHUp2JibwCLcB/s640/Tally%2BMarks%2BPuzzles%2BMath%2BCenter%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="Tallies puzzles to teach how to count tally marks and other fun graphing activities" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>When it comes time to show what they know, I have a ton of tally mark worksheets. First, I recommend having them count the tallies and write the number they represent in the box.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GxBfkQoaNJQ/V9Mmw-yM58I/AAAAAAAADho/L-auVA-WMJYGJAYdFdbeL2bWTRYbGSRXwCLcB/s1600/Tally%2BMarks%2BCounting%2BTallies%2BWorksheet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Counting tally marks practice worksheets and activities - lots of great ideas for teaching graphing" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GxBfkQoaNJQ/V9Mmw-yM58I/AAAAAAAADho/L-auVA-WMJYGJAYdFdbeL2bWTRYbGSRXwCLcB/s640/Tally%2BMarks%2BCounting%2BTallies%2BWorksheet.JPG" title="Counting tally marks practice worksheets and activities - lots of great ideas for teaching graphing" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div>Then, give them numbers and have them draw the tallies to make that number.&nbsp;</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P46af2T3Xno/V9Mm2sVGHLI/AAAAAAAADhw/zIkoxaG4YtsxgpfZDGBJVDRbFXeIjWIegCEw/s1600/Tally%2BMark%2BDrawing%2BTallies%2BWorksheet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P46af2T3Xno/V9Mm2sVGHLI/AAAAAAAADhw/zIkoxaG4YtsxgpfZDGBJVDRbFXeIjWIegCEw/s640/Tally%2BMark%2BDrawing%2BTallies%2BWorksheet.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Last, mix the 2 skills together for a lot of tally marks practice!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hAN-I8KQGhQ/V9Mm20h8_JI/AAAAAAAADh0/1EfLhjlDjboJiAW36RzcdF3xsZs1Mu8HACEw/s1600/Tally%2BMarks%2BCounting%2Band%2BDrawing%2BTallies.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hAN-I8KQGhQ/V9Mm20h8_JI/AAAAAAAADh0/1EfLhjlDjboJiAW36RzcdF3xsZs1Mu8HACEw/s640/Tally%2BMarks%2BCounting%2Band%2BDrawing%2BTallies.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Now that they understand WHAT tallies are and how to read/write them, now they can use them for graphing!</div><div><br /></div><div>I recommend giving your kids this shapes graph to tally in their level. Level A worksheet:<br /><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uKVbNMc472c/V9MoLHXoO6I/AAAAAAAADic/2LSRTJKWlV0XPmKvcpLqSaNWGa0p7uJRACEw/s1600/Tally%2BCharts%2BGraphing%2BWorksheets%2B%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tally charts worksheets and activities for first grade or kindergarten" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uKVbNMc472c/V9MoLHXoO6I/AAAAAAAADic/2LSRTJKWlV0XPmKvcpLqSaNWGa0p7uJRACEw/s640/Tally%2BCharts%2BGraphing%2BWorksheets%2B%25285%2529.JPG" title="Tally charts worksheets and activities for first grade or kindergarten" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br />Level C worksheet:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kRBvfzsT5jg/V9MoJxNFkVI/AAAAAAAADiY/N6iSEwa5eggDBu1-B80qCNr0If8wS8jlgCEw/s1600/Tally%2BCharts%2BGraphing%2BWorksheets%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tally charts worksheets and activities for first grade or kindergarten" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kRBvfzsT5jg/V9MoJxNFkVI/AAAAAAAADiY/N6iSEwa5eggDBu1-B80qCNr0If8wS8jlgCEw/s640/Tally%2BCharts%2BGraphing%2BWorksheets%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="Tally charts worksheets and activities for first grade or kindergarten" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Yay! They made their very own tally chart! :)</div><div><br /></div><div>As you can see, I really differentiate everything that I can. I think it is so important for kids to be able to feel successful but challenged at their level. I want every kid in the world to love math so I try to make it as fun as possible while providing support for the kids who need it and a challenge for those who need it.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>For example, here is one of the tally charts worksheets I recommend giving to the majority of your kids. Note the level B in the star in the corner. This is for the kids who are on grade level... they get things after explaining once or twice and typically don't struggle with learning new math concepts.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6oCaX2BPuHQ/V9MoNBr6s_I/AAAAAAAADik/jg1D-SpMNzkkeuT_kp2Jk-Yg8MITd0JsQCEw/s1600/Tally%2BCharts%2BWorksheets%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tally charts worksheets and activities to practice tallies graphing and data" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6oCaX2BPuHQ/V9MoNBr6s_I/AAAAAAAADik/jg1D-SpMNzkkeuT_kp2Jk-Yg8MITd0JsQCEw/s640/Tally%2BCharts%2BWorksheets%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Tally charts worksheets and activities to practice tallies graphing and data" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>This worksheet has a tally chart where the numbers are within 10. It asks questions they know how to answer from learning about bar graphing.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>For your kids who <i>do</i>&nbsp;struggle, give them a Level A worksheet. They are practicing the exact same concept but at their level. The numbers they're using are smaller and the questions are much easier to answer. After they master Level A, definitely let them try Level B but they should definitely be doing Level A to prepare first so they can feel successful.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WO3pcMmZUwE/V9MoLtu-zAI/AAAAAAAADig/utVP9dAhUwoPStMJQGc3-imaQt0oOX3jwCEw/s1600/Tally%2BCharts%2BWorksheets%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WO3pcMmZUwE/V9MoLtu-zAI/AAAAAAAADig/utVP9dAhUwoPStMJQGc3-imaQt0oOX3jwCEw/s640/Tally%2BCharts%2BWorksheets%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>For your kids who need an extra challenge, give a Level C worksheet. As you can see below, the numbers are much bigger so it is much more of a challenge. It's not always about having bigger numbers - I usually try to provide more challenging ideas or questions but for this one, it's just about bigger numbers because that really does make it a lot more challenging for them to answer the questions (adding them ALL up, subtracting one from another to determine how many more).&nbsp;</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lgywv1DWf9I/V9MoOnkPT4I/AAAAAAAADis/b4wxNao96qEXiEXlHau5ge6O-T7MnzzGgCEw/s1600/Tally%2BCharts%2BWorksheets%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lgywv1DWf9I/V9MoOnkPT4I/AAAAAAAADis/b4wxNao96qEXiEXlHau5ge6O-T7MnzzGgCEw/s640/Tally%2BCharts%2BWorksheets%2B%25283%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Another way to easily differentiate is with centers. For example, with the Tally Dice Roll, you can differentiate by simply giving a different set of directions to different groups.</div><div><br /></div><div>For this center, kids roll the dice then draw the tallies. For your on level and above kids, have them roll 2 dice and use that to create a 2 digit number. If they roll a 3 and a 2, their number would be 32 so they would write 32 in the circle and draw 32 tallies. For your lower kids, tell them to roll 2 dice then add them together to get the number they draw so they only are drawing tallies with numbers up to 12. For example, if <i>they</i>&nbsp;roll a 3 and a 2, they would add the 2 numbers together to get their number (5) so they'd write 5 and draw 5 tallies.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ErYXL6-8MiM/V9MnkkUmFsI/AAAAAAAADh4/f_72U1aOkjERe1FDpfKgPuNT_iko4CO8wCLcB/s1600/Tally%2BMarks%2BDice%2BRoll%2BMath%2BCenter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Super fun math center games to practice counting tallies" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ErYXL6-8MiM/V9MnkkUmFsI/AAAAAAAADh4/f_72U1aOkjERe1FDpfKgPuNT_iko4CO8wCLcB/s640/Tally%2BMarks%2BDice%2BRoll%2BMath%2BCenter.JPG" title="Super fun math center games to practice counting tallies" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Another fun activity is using colored craft sticks! Put a handful of 3 colors of craft sticks into a baggie. Do this to make a few baggies to choose from. Have kids in partners simply grab a baggie, sort the craft sticks by color, and make them into tallies (by color) to see how many of each color they have. Then have them ask each other questions about it! How many red, how many yellow, how many more ___ than ___, which has the most, which has the least, how many tallies in all, and so on. You could also write the question frames on the board to guide their math talk!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B8AFxAG-nWM/V9MoOAW-nPI/AAAAAAAADio/SCdzr8CF00Mtig7KXfY1RT61EevMSbcAQCLcB/s1600/Tally%2BMark%2BCraft%2BSticks%2BSmall%2BGroup%2BGame.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B8AFxAG-nWM/V9MoOAW-nPI/AAAAAAAADio/SCdzr8CF00Mtig7KXfY1RT61EevMSbcAQCLcB/s640/Tally%2BMark%2BCraft%2BSticks%2BSmall%2BGroup%2BGame.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Cut and pastes are also a lot of fun to practice! I made a couple different ones to practice with.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lqyPzX7n88A/V9Mm2GoAPBI/AAAAAAAADhs/P5v5cE5nR4UzA7g1BqeYNkplPs-aWXxBwCEw/s1600/Tally%2BMarks%2BCounting%2BTallies%2BCP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lqyPzX7n88A/V9Mm2GoAPBI/AAAAAAAADhs/P5v5cE5nR4UzA7g1BqeYNkplPs-aWXxBwCEw/s640/Tally%2BMarks%2BCounting%2BTallies%2BCP.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><h3>Picture Graphs (Pictographs)</h3></div><div>Okay so my personal favorite type of graph - picture graphs!</div><div><br /></div><div>You can introduce them by grabbing any random classroom objects (crayons, glue sticks, counting bears, cubes, anything!) and making a picture graph out of them.</div><div><br /></div><div>Just make sure the objects are all of a similar size so you can line them up so it doesn't skew the look of the data and make it look like there's more of something just because it's bigger.<br /><br />When kids are ready to practice picture graphs, I recommend starting them out with a Level A or Level B worksheet.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V1-Q8f4qAYU/V9MoGmZ_PfI/AAAAAAAADiM/GHvySnQh1solpVOTwsEbRZXEpU6XRUS0QCEw/s1600/Picture%2BGraphs%2BWorksheet%2BLevel%2BA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Picture graphs worksheets and activities for first grade differentiated and fun math activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V1-Q8f4qAYU/V9MoGmZ_PfI/AAAAAAAADiM/GHvySnQh1solpVOTwsEbRZXEpU6XRUS0QCEw/s640/Picture%2BGraphs%2BWorksheet%2BLevel%2BA.JPG" title="Picture graphs worksheets and activities for first grade differentiated and fun math activities" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />I love picture graphs because they're so visual and kids understand them pretty easily. Level A above is really straightforward while Level B has them answer a pesky "How many more?" question as well as make them think to answer the "How many kids are in our class?" question.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PShvIkxXqdc/V9MoD338SXI/AAAAAAAADiA/kW6xOUJpkZYQyxBMBBIaqJvedxEmqI-QACEw/s1600/Picture%2BGraphs%2BLevel%2BB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Picture graphs worksheets and activities for first grade differentiated and fun math activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PShvIkxXqdc/V9MoD338SXI/AAAAAAAADiA/kW6xOUJpkZYQyxBMBBIaqJvedxEmqI-QACEw/s640/Picture%2BGraphs%2BLevel%2BB.JPG" title="Picture graphs worksheets and activities for first grade differentiated and fun math activities" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />For your kids who need a challenge, I included a lot of deeper thinking questions. They're all questions you could do whole group with everyone since they're a lot like what kids would encounter on a test but all those questions at once would probably be overwhelming for the average first grader so I'd keep it for your higher kids only if it's independent practice. It'd be a great sheet to do in small groups with your on level groups though! They can definitely do it with a little support. :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5llxFJGkxuI/V9MoEJX4epI/AAAAAAAADiI/nvsQ065WtrEurCcHw9GtDDWoS3zxrHyCQCEw/s1600/Picture%2BGraphs%2BLevel%2BC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Picture graphs worksheets and activities for first grade differentiated and fun math activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5llxFJGkxuI/V9MoEJX4epI/AAAAAAAADiI/nvsQ065WtrEurCcHw9GtDDWoS3zxrHyCQCEw/s640/Picture%2BGraphs%2BLevel%2BC.JPG" title="Picture graphs worksheets and activities for first grade differentiated and fun math activities" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Okay so this is a super fun picture graphs math center - Race to Graph!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UVEjeMgTJWY/V9MqhXFIXbI/AAAAAAAADi8/xKnD4bYJ2TAikKwZ283JC7Ga83_V5si9wCLcB/s1600/Race%2Bto%2BGraph%2BMath%2BCenter%2B%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Race to Graph is such a fun math center game to practice pictographs and other picture graph activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UVEjeMgTJWY/V9MqhXFIXbI/AAAAAAAADi8/xKnD4bYJ2TAikKwZ283JC7Ga83_V5si9wCLcB/s640/Race%2Bto%2BGraph%2BMath%2BCenter%2B%25284%2529.JPG" title="Race to Graph is such a fun math center game to practice pictographs and other picture graph activities" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Your kids will LOVE It and they can play it over and over for new races! I love centers kids can play over and over because I think students should do any center multiple times... every time they do it, they're increasing their understanding.<br /><br />Give your students the car dice, the Race to Graph racing mat (laminate it or put it in a sheet protector), and a dry erase marker. Have them roll the dice to figure out which car color to color in on their mat with the dry erase marker to create their picture graph. They keep rolling until one of the cars wins the race by having its full row colored in! I think it's fun if they "bet" on a color car first with their partner.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mDLa28wsBGc/V9MrAWvOoBI/AAAAAAAADjY/jQbyVwf8wusiO63IC2KvQJURUh0r7fewQCPcB/s1600/Race%2Bto%2BGraph%2BMath%2BCenter%2B%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mDLa28wsBGc/V9MrAWvOoBI/AAAAAAAADjY/jQbyVwf8wusiO63IC2KvQJURUh0r7fewQCPcB/s640/Race%2Bto%2BGraph%2BMath%2BCenter%2B%25286%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />If you want to have them record their results, give them the A level recording sheet to color in the cars (have them use the crayon colors of the cars to color it in) and total their answers at the bottom.<br /><br />If you want them to also analyze the data, give them the level B worksheet for on level practice or the level C worksheet for students who need a challenge. For kids who struggle, I recommend doing just the A sheet. For on level kids, they can do A and B or just B. For advanced kids, they can do A and C or just C. This is the Level B data analysis sheet:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-36X7Zzu6nLU/V9MrAYyhA5I/AAAAAAAADjE/OO_HwME7J-IvKfvx62UatDGKgXp28hF4wCEw/s1600/Race%2Bto%2BGraph%2BMath%2BCenter%2B%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-36X7Zzu6nLU/V9MrAYyhA5I/AAAAAAAADjE/OO_HwME7J-IvKfvx62UatDGKgXp28hF4wCEw/s640/Race%2Bto%2BGraph%2BMath%2BCenter%2B%25288%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />And, of course, cutting and pasting fun! Have kids look at the data table at the top to figure out how many of each fish to give each person. You can have them color each person's fish a different color to help them build it if you want. I love these because they're fun AND a perfect assessment. You can see who understands what a picture graph means... and it's tricky! There are 4 extra fish they don't need so they'll be challenged to realize that they don't use all of the fish to make their chart.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VmxAMnrjTTM/V9MoD-oaLKI/AAAAAAAADiE/SgFoUcfShLoPOYI4zQ4zb-4sXR9Ch-f2ACEw/s1600/Picture%2BGraphs%2BWorksheet%2BFish%2BCP%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Picture graphs activities and worksheets and a lot more fun graphing ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VmxAMnrjTTM/V9MoD-oaLKI/AAAAAAAADiE/SgFoUcfShLoPOYI4zQ4zb-4sXR9Ch-f2ACEw/s640/Picture%2BGraphs%2BWorksheet%2BFish%2BCP%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Picture graphs activities and worksheets and a lot more fun graphing ideas" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><h3><span style="font-size: large;">Pie Charts</span></h3>Pie Charts are also a lot of fun because they're visual... and who doesn't love pie?<br /><br />The easiest way to teach pie charts is to just show them a pie chart and talk about it. I like to use this "Our Favorite Food" visual because it's simple. Explain how you asked the class their favorite food and these were the results. Ask them which food has the biggest chunk of the pie - that must be the category we like the most! Ask which has the smallest chunk of the pie, etc. to talk about it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XbG1C40liH0/V9Mrxd2ZSsI/AAAAAAAADjI/QV4gC0FalFwCVDyREtavLE4s8qSbgrHdwCLcB/s1600/Pie%2BChart%2BFavorite%2BFood%2BGraph%2BWorksheet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XbG1C40liH0/V9Mrxd2ZSsI/AAAAAAAADjI/QV4gC0FalFwCVDyREtavLE4s8qSbgrHdwCLcB/s400/Pie%2BChart%2BFavorite%2BFood%2BGraph%2BWorksheet.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br />Now it's time to make our own pie chart! Making their own is what really solidifies the concept. Give them a pie chart building worksheet where they look at the picture (data) and color each fruit the crayon color it says to. Then, they'll color in a slice of their pie chart according to how many of that fruit there were. For example, they colored 5 apples red so they would color in 5 slices on their piece chart red. They colored in 3 lime wedges green so they'd color in 3 slices of their pie chart green. When they're all done, they've made their very own pie chart!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C8zx4-HTOXg/V9MoH912j0I/AAAAAAAADiU/5ccnC8oucy0wlDVv9frvdhNkikAUmFdswCEw/s1600/Pie%2BCharts%2BWorksheets%2Bh.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pie charts worksheets and activities to teach circle graphs in first grade" border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C8zx4-HTOXg/V9MoH912j0I/AAAAAAAADiU/5ccnC8oucy0wlDVv9frvdhNkikAUmFdswCEw/s640/Pie%2BCharts%2BWorksheets%2Bh.JPG" title="Pie charts worksheets and activities to teach circle graphs in first grade" width="640" /></a></div><br />But, of course, they have to analyze it too! Data analysis sounds like such a scary thing but it really gets so easy for them with practice! It's so nice to have similar questions for all of the different graph types, too, so that they are comfortable with <i>what</i>&nbsp;it's asking and just have to apply it to the new type of graph. For the Level B data analysis worksheet (above on the right), they write how many of each fruit, how many in all, which they saw the most, and which they saw the least.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TZAErTSO2vE/V9MoHi2oqbI/AAAAAAAADiQ/AOtmOn7y8jQ3xpAhJH5dF5nga8CveUWhQCEw/s1600/Pie%2BCharts%2BWorksheets%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pie charts worksheets and activities to teach circle graphs in first grade" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TZAErTSO2vE/V9MoHi2oqbI/AAAAAAAADiQ/AOtmOn7y8jQ3xpAhJH5dF5nga8CveUWhQCEw/s640/Pie%2BCharts%2BWorksheets%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Pie charts worksheets and activities to teach circle graphs in first grade" width="480" /></a></div><br />Level C has a lot more questions! By this point in your graphing unit, you could give this worksheet to all of them because they've had a lot of practice with questions like this!<br /><br />Here's another do again and again (and again and again) math center you can do...<br />Roll a Pie Chart!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1j6W36VTj-s/V9MsZUzTHVI/AAAAAAAADjM/fF7Ks-GvLb8EgJ636B9r7cKJh2MQzCR0wCLcB/s1600/Roll%2Ba%2BPie%2BChart%2BMath%2BGame%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pie charts worksheets and activities to teach circle graphs in first grade" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1j6W36VTj-s/V9MsZUzTHVI/AAAAAAAADjM/fF7Ks-GvLb8EgJ636B9r7cKJh2MQzCR0wCLcB/s640/Roll%2Ba%2BPie%2BChart%2BMath%2BGame%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Pie charts worksheets and activities to teach circle graphs in first grade" width="480" /></a></div><br />For this center, kids simply roll the crayon dice to tell them what color to color in each circle on their paper. They roll a red crayon/color in a circle red, roll a green crayon/color in a circle green, roll a blue crayon/color in a circle blue, etc. until all of their circles in the line are colored in. Once they've filled all their circles in the line, they make a pie chart with their data and answer the 2 questions. Super simple :) I love centers you can do over and over like this for a ton of practice.<br /><br /><br /><h3>Types of &nbsp;Graphs</h3>So now we've practiced all 4 types of graphs we learn in first grade! Do they remember what they're called? I like to have a few sheets to practice this so they remember the names of them:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B2lfrd0oGbY/V9MoPuHa_lI/AAAAAAAADiw/28Wc5711nzgJjdgxzPT4HYygqkgJBcqUwCEw/s1600/Types%2Bof%2BGraphs%2BWorksheet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Practicing the different types of graphs worksheets and activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B2lfrd0oGbY/V9MoPuHa_lI/AAAAAAAADiw/28Wc5711nzgJjdgxzPT4HYygqkgJBcqUwCEw/s640/Types%2Bof%2BGraphs%2BWorksheet.JPG" title="Practicing the different types of graphs worksheets and activities" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />You can also hang up a poster or anchor chart like this as a reference. I also made this poster in black and white so students can color it and put it in their math folders.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIK-E_lU11Y/V9Ms-CFmYnI/AAAAAAAADjQ/_Cvv5vCTiQUPcPFIPCIe60x9glKcs2kRQCLcB/s1600/Poster%2BTypes%2Bof%2BGraphs.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIK-E_lU11Y/V9Ms-CFmYnI/AAAAAAAADjQ/_Cvv5vCTiQUPcPFIPCIe60x9glKcs2kRQCLcB/s640/Poster%2BTypes%2Bof%2BGraphs.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>I also like to have reference posters of each graph type to hang up so kids can quickly reference!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wdx_q1ACBjU/V9Ms-CfS3UI/AAAAAAAADjU/mYBMIfgsvQEu2Tg4xjU7HUJV9kMOEhhagCLcB/s1600/Posters%2BGraphing%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Types of graphs math posters" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wdx_q1ACBjU/V9Ms-CfS3UI/AAAAAAAADjU/mYBMIfgsvQEu2Tg4xjU7HUJV9kMOEhhagCLcB/s640/Posters%2BGraphing%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Types of graphs math posters" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div>Now that they know all 4 types of graphs, I think another important skill is being able to display data in multiple ways with different graph types.... so in comes the assessment!<br /><br />As you know from my math units, I always include 3 versions of every unit test. Here's one of them!<br /><br />They have to look at the data and express it in 3 different types of graphs: bar graph, tally chart, and pie chart.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--724sTsApi0/V9MoRsr2CzI/AAAAAAAADi4/NcmMLNczq4cI5R4ew2pQkX8VYsIIwSDVACEw/s1600/Unit%2B16%2BGraphing%2BData%2BAnalysis%2BTest%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Graphing assessments and activities first grade" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--724sTsApi0/V9MoRsr2CzI/AAAAAAAADi4/NcmMLNczq4cI5R4ew2pQkX8VYsIIwSDVACEw/s640/Unit%2B16%2BGraphing%2BData%2BAnalysis%2BTest%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Graphing assessments and activities first grade" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />&nbsp;Then, they answer the questions about their graphs!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ck2su8LhJcI/V9MoRPDNgjI/AAAAAAAADi0/GZpbt2fVOykSM7DtaY57uEz7mqllzhQQgCEw/s1600/Unit%2B16%2BGraphing%2BData%2BAnalysis%2BTest%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Graphing assessments and activities first grade" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ck2su8LhJcI/V9MoRPDNgjI/AAAAAAAADi0/GZpbt2fVOykSM7DtaY57uEz7mqllzhQQgCEw/s640/Unit%2B16%2BGraphing%2BData%2BAnalysis%2BTest%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Graphing assessments and activities first grade" width="480" /></a></div><br />Like I said, there are 3 of the tests so you could easy do pre-, mid-, and post- assessments. You could also give the test at the end of the unit to figure out who you need to reteach to in small groups and use another test after reteaching to see if it stuck. What I actually recommend is doing a pre-test, post-test, and then saving the 3rd test in a stack with the 3rd tests from the other math units you did that quarter to do a big quarter test at the end of each quarter. It makes a great formative assessment for report cards! You could also save one of the tests for review work packets. There's lots of options!<br /><br />There's also a sheet to test labeling the parts of a graph and identifying the types of graphs but I think I've maxed out the amount of pictures one should use on a post :) I hope it loaded quickly for you!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I hope you loved reading about graphing!!!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Want EVERY SINGLE ACTIVITY from this post??</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Get it here:</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Math-Unit-16-Graphing-and-Data-Analysis-2054494" target="_blank">First Grade Math Unit 16: Graphing and Data Analysis</a></span><br /><br />It also comes in a UK spelling version for my friends around the world that is already included in the file!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Math-Unit-16-Graphing-and-Data-Analysis-2054494" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r02sDUVEjfQ/Vd14gmj8MWI/AAAAAAAABgU/kAaxa1QfQ64ZZ5vd8TnVmb8RzO1LWSIHgCPcB/s640/Slide1.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I have math units like this for all the first grade math concepts! I bundled them at a super deep discount (if you buy both bundles, that's like getting almost FIVE entire units free so they're definitely worth checking out if you want your whole year in math planned!):</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Math-Units-1-9-BUNDLE-1302256" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">First Grade Math Units 1-9</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Math-Units-10-18-BUNDLE-1636278" target="_blank">First Grade Math Units 10-18</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">Want to read more MATH ideas from me?</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Check out some of these fun posts:</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/07/building-number-sense-in-first-grade.html">Building Number Sense</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/08/place-value-moving-and-new-blog-design.html" target="_blank">Place Value</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/02/telling-time.html" target="_blank">Telling Time</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/03/fractions-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">Fractions</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/12/adding-3-numbers.html" target="_blank">Adding 3 Numbers</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/fact-fluency-in-first-grade.html">Fact Fluency</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/making-10-to-add.html" target="_blank">Making a 10 to Add</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/02/teaching-money.html">Money</a>&nbsp;(available in U.S., Australian, U.K., and Canadian coins!)</span><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/04/composing-shapes-in-1st-grade.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Composing Shapes</span></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Follow me&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/themissgiraffe" target="_blank">on Pinterest</a>&nbsp;for more teaching ideas!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Also - don't forget to join&nbsp;<a href="http://eepurl.com/1WAO9" target="_blank">Miss Giraffe's Class</a>&nbsp;so you never miss out on fun ideas and exclusive free stuff from me only for subscribers!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;">Here's a picture for you to pin if you want to save this article to read again later! :)</span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OQi5Kp7FRqA/WiGcjxPeqXI/AAAAAAAAGW4/qc1hHl7vm6cssNKVf6oI48HwJelwCxnWQCLcBGAs/s1600/Graphing%2Bfirst%2Bgrade%2Bactivities.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Graphing activities and ideas for first grade or kindergarten that make learning about graphs so much fun! From bar graphs to tally marks to picture graphs - this post has ideas for them all!" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="576" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OQi5Kp7FRqA/WiGcjxPeqXI/AAAAAAAAGW4/qc1hHl7vm6cssNKVf6oI48HwJelwCxnWQCLcBGAs/s640/Graphing%2Bfirst%2Bgrade%2Bactivities.PNG" title="Graphing activities and ideas for first grade or kindergarten that make learning about graphs so much fun! From bar graphs to tally marks to picture graphs - this post has ideas for them all!" width="384" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></div>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-65722046274909542582016-08-12T16:13:00.004-07:002017-12-02T11:38:10.079-07:00DIY Classroom Decor Bulletin Board LettersI absolutely love DIY classroom decor so I wanted to show you guys how to make your own bulletin board letters in any font, size, style, and color you want! I promise it's easy!<br /><br />Making bulletin board letters is super easy and, best of all, cheap! All you need is colorful paper and a printer to print in black ink! Then you can label your entire classroom as much as you want for super cheap!<br /><br />This easy step by step tutorial is using PowerPoint on a PC. It may be different on a Mac or with a different version of PowerPoint but I am guessing it's pretty similar! I can help you if you need it on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MissGiraffesClass/photos/a.1530314260530718.1073741827.1529975000564644/1842052049356936/?type=3&amp;theater" target="_blank">this Facebook post</a>, I'll help provide support so feel free to ask any questions there!<br /><br />This is to make your own bulletin board letters in any font/color/size/etc. that you want like the MATH letters on my math board. Big colorful letters are perfect for making "Word Wall," "Our Best Work," or any board you want to title!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nUXBXwmAic8/V65Q5BM0YWI/AAAAAAAADZM/1NHpmlwhxpQc4l8I_e_gBlHLd5BsHcB_wCLcB/s1600/DIY%2BBulletin%2BBoard%2BLetters%2BTutorial%2BSquare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DIY classroom decor tutorial to make your own bulletin board letters in any font color and size in only 5 easy steps!!" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nUXBXwmAic8/V65Q5BM0YWI/AAAAAAAADZM/1NHpmlwhxpQc4l8I_e_gBlHLd5BsHcB_wCLcB/s640/DIY%2BBulletin%2BBoard%2BLetters%2BTutorial%2BSquare.jpg" title="DIY classroom decor tutorial to make your own bulletin board letters in any font color and size in only 5 easy steps!!" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you want to see the math activities on the board, I show those fun activities in action in my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/07/building-number-sense-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">Building Number Sense in First Grade</a> post with a ton of ideas for how to introduce numbers in the beginning of the year!</span></div><br /><br />Okay let's get started!<br /><br /><h3>step 1: open a new, blank PowerPoint slide and make it paper sized</h3>This is the most tech-y seeming step but I promise it's easy and, once you do it once or twice, you'll be able to do it in your sleep.<br /><br />When you open a new presentation, it will most likely default to "Widescreen" and be widescreen sized and landscape. I prefer to make the page "Portrait" by clicking on <b>DESIGN </b>at the top and then the drop-down box <b>SELECT SIZE</b>&nbsp;and then <b>CUSTOM SLIDE SIZE</b>.<br /><br />A box will pop up.<br /><br />Under <b>SLIDES SIZED FOR</b>, select <b>LETTER PAPER (8.5 x 11 in) </b><u>and</u>&nbsp;under <b>ORIENTATION</b>, click on <b>PORTRAIT</b>.<br /><br />This will give you a normal page in PowerPoint that you can print on regular copy paper. I do this before creating anything! This makes it so the page prints out portrait style on a regular piece of copy paper. :)<br /><br /><h3>step 2: insert a text box in a fun font</h3><div>Now for the fun part! Choose the font you want to use! I LOVE fonts. There are a ton of free fonts for personal use on TpT. For this example, I am using <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/KG-Shake-it-Off-Font-Personal-Use-1444310" target="_blank">KG Shake It Off Chunky</a>&nbsp;which is one of my (many) favorites.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Click on <b>INSERT</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Click on <b>TEXT BOX</b>. Click somewhere on the page, holding down your mouse, drag your mouse diagonally to create a box, and then let go. It doesn't matter how big you make the text box or where you put it - you can change all that later.</div><div><br /></div><div>Type the first letter you want to make inside the text box.</div><div><br /></div><div>Highlight the letter with your mouse.</div><div><br /></div><div>Choose the font you want to use.</div><div><br /></div><div>Make it the size you want by typing a number in the box for font size (usually a drop down to the right of the name of the font). I typed in 600 for my example.</div><div><br /></div><div>To move the letter to where you want it on the page, click on the dotted line of the text box to make it a solid line which allows you to select the whole box. Then you can drag that box around to where you want it with your mouse. Make sure your letter stays in the white (that's the page and what it will look like when it prints).</div><div><br /></div><div>It should look something like this....</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9b2RRuEL7RA/V65KEeX3IiI/AAAAAAAADYo/xML8o7hBLfcfT2HBQk2PGr1AT0ibA-L_QCLcB/s1600/Step%2B2%2BLetter.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9b2RRuEL7RA/V65KEeX3IiI/AAAAAAAADYo/xML8o7hBLfcfT2HBQk2PGr1AT0ibA-L_QCLcB/s320/Step%2B2%2BLetter.png" width="244" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h3>step 3: make the font an outline</h3><div>Highlight the letter by clicking on one side of the letter and dragging to the other side then let go. This should make a gray box over the letter like this:</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-86oa-ZmZ9m4/V65MD28WXmI/AAAAAAAADY4/AVaA4nZgQQ0Vd2NKy7b_KwPyR9V2NxjVQCLcB/s1600/Step%2B3%2BOutline.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="309" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-86oa-ZmZ9m4/V65MD28WXmI/AAAAAAAADY4/AVaA4nZgQQ0Vd2NKy7b_KwPyR9V2NxjVQCLcB/s320/Step%2B3%2BOutline.png" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b>Right click</b> on the gray box that highlights the letter.</div><div><br /></div><div>A little box will pop up. Click on <b>Format Text Effects</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div>This will pop up a little menu on the right hand side.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Click on the A with the little rectangle under it. (It looks just like the A with a rectangle under it that you always click on to change font colors.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Click on <b>Text Fill</b>. Click on <b>No Fill</b>. Your letter will disappear for a second, not to worry, it's supposed to.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next, click on <b>Text Outline</b>. Click on <b>Solid Line</b>. Your letter should reappear as an outline (most likely in blue).</div><div><br /></div><div>Under <b>Color</b>, click on the paint bucket to change it to black.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Then you'll see a box a little under that called <b>Width</b>. It's most likely at 0.75. Make it as thick as you want... play with it clicking the arrows up and down until you get the thickness you want. For my example, I used 18 pt so I clicked the up arrow a lot. :) [If you don't want a border and want just the letter in a bright color with no border, leave it at 0.75 so you have a super thin line to follow when cutting it out.]<br /><br />Now it should look like this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L8exSPqyil4/V65kilDPJKI/AAAAAAAADZ4/E6WzKxkYVcoeQ4PvlzSkCyPl1MLtNfdXACLcB/s1600/Step%2B3%2BOutline%2B2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-L8exSPqyil4/V65kilDPJKI/AAAAAAAADZ4/E6WzKxkYVcoeQ4PvlzSkCyPl1MLtNfdXACLcB/s320/Step%2B3%2BOutline%2B2.png" width="242" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Congratulations, you made your letter!!!!<br /><br />Repeat for whatever other letters you're trying to make for whatever you're spelling out. You can easily do this by clicking on the slide you just made on the left hand side where it shows a small version of the slide. Once you click on the slide, hold down CTRL + D (hold down the the <b>Ctrl</b> key on your keyboard and press the letter D). This will duplicate the slide in an exact copy so you can simply just change the letter. You can press CTRL+D as many times as you need to spell anything you want! :)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h3>step 4: print your letters onto the color paper you want them to be in</h3><div>Choose the colors you want the letters to be and print the outline on that color paper.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eYU2afa8iYw/V65SDHVPrmI/AAAAAAAADZU/9R-f2UE7HgY32tCE-8hHEZSOA-vKaJhVQCLcB/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DIY classroom decor tutorial to make your own bulletin board letters in any font color and size in only 5 easy steps!!" border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eYU2afa8iYw/V65SDHVPrmI/AAAAAAAADZU/9R-f2UE7HgY32tCE-8hHEZSOA-vKaJhVQCLcB/s400/Slide1.JPG" title="DIY classroom decor tutorial to make your own bulletin board letters in any font color and size in only 5 easy steps!!" width="300" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><h3>step 5: cut out the letters</h3><div>Simply cut out the letters! I personally like to leave the black wide border on them and cut it out around the edge.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>If you want letters with no borders to just be that letter in a bright color, you would've left the width at 0.75 in step 3 so just cut it out with that line.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>For letters that have insides, I recommend using a little hand knife from the craft store to cut the inside pieces out like this:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj_aWim1Jho/V65TQYN3lMI/AAAAAAAADZc/5oEZgAykT2YWNOizE4QW8HaxwX8d8r4xgCLcB/s1600/Slide2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DIY classroom decor tutorial to make your own bulletin board letters in any font color and size in only 5 easy steps!!" border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lj_aWim1Jho/V65TQYN3lMI/AAAAAAAADZc/5oEZgAykT2YWNOizE4QW8HaxwX8d8r4xgCLcB/s400/Slide2.JPG" title="DIY classroom decor tutorial to make your own bulletin board letters in any font color and size in only 5 easy steps!!" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the mat for my rotary cutter which I love for cutting out centers. You can see it on this list of <a href="http://www.teacherslovelists.com/best-teacher-tools/classroom-must-haves/" target="_blank">Classroom Must Haves</a> full of awesome things for the classroom which also has the bright paper I use and other fun goodies.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>So now you're done!!!! GO LABEL THE WORLD! ....or at least your classroom! :)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BJIS9DJpGH4/V65WFiJShMI/AAAAAAAADZo/mDfXk1l0rlsu8ZjD894vsSDXBdXrYH7eACLcB/s1600/Slide3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DIY classroom decor tutorial to make your own bulletin board letters in any font color and size in only 5 easy steps!!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BJIS9DJpGH4/V65WFiJShMI/AAAAAAAADZo/mDfXk1l0rlsu8ZjD894vsSDXBdXrYH7eACLcB/s640/Slide3.JPG" title="DIY classroom decor tutorial to make your own bulletin board letters in any font color and size in only 5 easy steps!!" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>You can do this to create so many bulletin board labels for your classroom! Your word wall, your math wall, your student work board, whatever! Create and label to your heart's content! I just love making my own letters because it's so cheap - just color paper and black ink - and I can make them HUGE to brighten up any display. I really hope you loved this tutorial! Please let me know on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MissGiraffesClass/photos/a.1530314260530718.1073741827.1529975000564644/1842052049356936/?type=3&amp;theater" target="_blank">this Facebook post</a> if you have any questions or need help! I'll respond on that post to help you out. :)</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Please let me know in the comments below if this tutorial was helpful for you! :)</span>&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd also love if you took a moment to follow me on <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/themissgiraffe/pins/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MissGiraffesClass/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, and <a href="https://www.instagram.com/missgiraffesclass/" target="_blank">IG</a> for more fun ideas like this. Thanks!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Check out these other fun posts:</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/04/classroom-management-strategies.html" target="_blank">20 Classroom Management Strategies You Can Start Right Away</a></span></div><div><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/10/cvc-words-roll.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">CVC Words Roll</span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/09/short-activities-and-resources.html" target="_blank">Short A Activities &amp; Resources</a>&nbsp;(has a TON of ideas for short vowels centers and activities)</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/07/building-number-sense-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">Building Number Sense in First Grade</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/fact-fluency-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">Fact Fluency in First Grade</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/06/bottle-cap-cvc-word-building-centers.html" target="_blank">Bottle Cap CVC Word Building Centers</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/11/tips-for-building-reading-fluency.html" target="_blank">Tips for Building Reading Fluency</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/03/phonics-fluency-notebooks.html" target="_blank">Phonics Fluency Notebooks</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/09/secret-sight-words-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Secret Sight Words</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/05/writing-crafts-that-are-no-prep.html" target="_blank">Writing Crafts that are NO PREP... Seriously!</a></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Also - don't forget to join&nbsp;<a href="http://eepurl.com/1WAO9" target="_blank">Miss Giraffe's Class</a>&nbsp;so you never miss out on fun ideas and exclusive&nbsp;<b>free stuff</b>&nbsp;from me only for subscribers!</span><br /><br /><br />Here's a picture for you to pin if you want to save this to read again later! :)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Rmi5gqtJys/WiLy58z5JWI/AAAAAAAAGX4/-_kA5emgFbEIh6Ox9AH9IXJhwuV8FawbgCLcBGAs/s1600/DIY%2Bbulletin%2Bboard%2Bletters%2Bideas%2Bclassroom%2Bdecor.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="DIY bulletin board letters for your classroom in a super easy step by step guide to make your own classroom decor in any font size or color you want! Save this!" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="576" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4Rmi5gqtJys/WiLy58z5JWI/AAAAAAAAGX4/-_kA5emgFbEIh6Ox9AH9IXJhwuV8FawbgCLcBGAs/s640/DIY%2Bbulletin%2Bboard%2Bletters%2Bideas%2Bclassroom%2Bdecor.PNG" title="DIY bulletin board letters for your classroom in a super easy step by step guide to make your own classroom decor in any font size or color you want! Save this!" width="384" /></a></div><br /></div></div>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-73149043235886649482016-06-25T21:56:00.001-07:002017-12-02T10:22:04.873-07:00Bottle Cap CVC Word Building CentersBuilding CVC words is so much fun with bottle caps! I absolutely love bottle caps for literacy and math centers which you may remember from my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/09/secret-sight-words-giveaway.html" target="_blank">Secret Sight Words</a> post a few years ago so I wanted to show you one of my favorite ways to use them.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Building words! For this short vowels center, I made 160 different CVC words.&nbsp;</div><div>All 160 words come in SIX different versions:</div><div>- All letters are missing (3 empty circles) so they build the entire word</div><div>- Just the beginning sound is missing (shown directly below)</div><div>- Just the ending sound is missing</div><div>- Just the middle sound (vowel sound) is missing</div><div>- The beginning <i>and</i> ending sound are missing</div><div>- No letters are missing so they just match letters</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/CVC-Words-Bottle-Cap-Centers-BUNDLE-2611746" target="_blank">Bottle Cap CVC Words Centers</a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lHua2XasSEI/V29P2C1_4AI/AAAAAAAADOo/jJlsT4X4FJggjBLZY3F-tQ_9FBbUihr5ACLcB/s1600/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%25286%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lHua2XasSEI/V29P2C1_4AI/AAAAAAAADOo/jJlsT4X4FJggjBLZY3F-tQ_9FBbUihr5ACLcB/s640/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%25286%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Since every CVC word card comes in 6 different levels, you can really easily differentiate it for your class or use them to practice certain skills. For example, if you're practicing <b>beginning sounds</b>, you could use all of those cards for the different short vowel sounds OR just the short e cards if that is the vowel you're practicing at the time or however you want to use them.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rVV3cDFlZyM/V29RASVGJkI/AAAAAAAADO0/pcEUK1AhI30tf6YHRbJ8NHKsJ-HmgZUcwCLcB/s1600/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rVV3cDFlZyM/V29RASVGJkI/AAAAAAAADO0/pcEUK1AhI30tf6YHRbJ8NHKsJ-HmgZUcwCLcB/s640/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I made the cards by word family so if you teach short vowels in word families then you can use the cards just for that word family to practice with. For example, these are some of the cards for the -at word family:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h0B9pB131Dc/V29Rh_nNrtI/AAAAAAAADO8/z1J5Ac0YmrwzBsPK2uyGozLfUD929EnugCLcB/s1600/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h0B9pB131Dc/V29Rh_nNrtI/AAAAAAAADO8/z1J5Ac0YmrwzBsPK2uyGozLfUD929EnugCLcB/s640/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Like I said, every card comes in 6 versions so this is the beginning sounds version. You could practice the -at word family with any of the levels. You could have your on level kids do this one as a center, your below level kids simply match the letters that are on the card by putting bottle caps on top of them, have your advanced level kids do the beginning &amp; ending sound cards (where only the a is in the middle and they figure out the initial/final sounds on the card), and then use the 3 empty circle cards to practice segmenting sounds in small groups. They're great teaching tools. :)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>You can also use <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/must-have-classroom-supplies.html" target="_blank">alphabet magnet letters</a> to put in the circles if you prefer. The ones I show you in <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/must-have-classroom-supplies.html" target="_blank">this post</a> are the ones that I use and fit well enough in the circles. Not perfectly as you can see below but they work well with the center. :)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XO27DrMa8jc/V29OvPvRAVI/AAAAAAAADOY/0MZSakhTxsUGICkuJZ_1LUR1CqzggvpnACLcB/s1600/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XO27DrMa8jc/V29OvPvRAVI/AAAAAAAADOY/0MZSakhTxsUGICkuJZ_1LUR1CqzggvpnACLcB/s640/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The alphabet letters are fun and colorful but I love bottle caps because you can make as many as you need. Just ask your parents for their water bottle caps and bring yours from home and use a permanent marker to write letters on them.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Like I was saying about the 3 blank circle versions, they are great word building practice in small groups. I love them for segmenting the individual sounds in a word.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lirz7ejKsio/V29S6qYvN3I/AAAAAAAADPM/ZZdlPsYR8mw6UNPnNrQc0HkvXv_0g05zQCLcB/s1600/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%252810%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lirz7ejKsio/V29S6qYvN3I/AAAAAAAADPM/ZZdlPsYR8mw6UNPnNrQc0HkvXv_0g05zQCLcB/s640/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%252810%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>You can also practice the missing initial sounds and final sounds cards in small groups. They're awesome for making kids think about what comes at the beginning of the word and what they hear at the end.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-50cYE8lkFQc/V29UEcbIo5I/AAAAAAAADPY/HAUVKQVKqiURRycIXG1h6trO_FIp34HGgCLcB/s1600/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%252817%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-50cYE8lkFQc/V29UEcbIo5I/AAAAAAAADPY/HAUVKQVKqiURRycIXG1h6trO_FIp34HGgCLcB/s640/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%252817%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;">You can also use them as an independent center.&nbsp;</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fczPv1u-Ndk/V29VaORuDpI/AAAAAAAADPs/689Bkjawlx4NjFoJHLeZin4w8HaN0r8NACLcB/s1600/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%252818%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fczPv1u-Ndk/V29VaORuDpI/AAAAAAAADPs/689Bkjawlx4NjFoJHLeZin4w8HaN0r8NACLcB/s640/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%252818%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Once your kids know all of the vowel sounds, I recommend using the middle sounds cards to practice what vowel sound the word is making. This can get tricky, especially with short i and e, so it's a fantastic center to practice it, especially for struggling students.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r1WfNTHAKP4/V29U6LInJ1I/AAAAAAAADPk/0iaJHMdo_T080IO0P1G-AP8qON5P3nBAQCLcB/s1600/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%252815%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r1WfNTHAKP4/V29U6LInJ1I/AAAAAAAADPk/0iaJHMdo_T080IO0P1G-AP8qON5P3nBAQCLcB/s640/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%252815%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Once your kids have done all of the cards as centers or small group activities, you can always just throw these cards into a bin as a free choice center. You can mix them all up by vowels and type so they can just do the ones they want.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuavAhbS4ko/V29V-oSlPwI/AAAAAAAADP4/ZZy26ROakgMOZhEmA9sQ8fdBjViJCjhYACLcB/s1600/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%252811%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZuavAhbS4ko/V29V-oSlPwI/AAAAAAAADP4/ZZy26ROakgMOZhEmA9sQ8fdBjViJCjhYACLcB/s640/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%252811%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you put your box of <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/must-have-classroom-supplies.html" target="_blank">alphabet magnet letters</a> in the center, that makes it a really popular choice as well!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IL90DdM5cS0/V29WLm-2NuI/AAAAAAAADQE/nlorYUqnfXo_czFrKk-z_vg7ggY0sLb2gCKgB/s1600/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IL90DdM5cS0/V29WLm-2NuI/AAAAAAAADQE/nlorYUqnfXo_czFrKk-z_vg7ggY0sLb2gCKgB/s640/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%25287%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So anyway! This is one of my favorite short vowel activities for working with words and you can get ALL of these cards in the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/CVC-Words-Bottle-Cap-Centers-BUNDLE-2611746" target="_blank">Bottle Cap Centers CVC Words bundle</a>!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/CVC-Words-Bottle-Cap-Centers-BUNDLE-2611746" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9Jt3dES3b6c/V29Wdb8sZXI/AAAAAAAADQM/wRQ6gD5UyAk9mBKBJ-E9Yej7mYNS_A4lgCLcB/s640/Bundle%2BCover%2BCVC.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I mean how cute is this cub??&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qLcT-G47iY8/V29OkjUSlII/AAAAAAAADOQ/E75IDFDcphYDaThQ_DacrhMNGJfhXneowCLcB/s1600/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qLcT-G47iY8/V29OkjUSlII/AAAAAAAADOQ/E75IDFDcphYDaThQ_DacrhMNGJfhXneowCLcB/s640/CVC%2BWord%2BBuilding%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">If you love these, I also have these for a ton of other sounds in these packs:</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Long-Vowels-CVCe-Words-Bottle-Cap-Centers-BUNDLE-2629640" target="_blank">Long Vowels CVCe&nbsp;</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Beginning-Blends-CCVC-Words-Bottle-Cap-Centers-2690084" target="_blank">Beginning Blends CCVC&nbsp;</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ending-Blends-Words-Bottle-Cap-Centers-2802724" target="_blank">Ending Blends&nbsp;</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digraphs-Words-Bottle-Cap-Centers-2744065" target="_blank">Digraphs</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bossy-R-Words-Bottle-Cap-Centers-R-controlled-vowels-2735328" target="_blank">Bossy R&nbsp;</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Vowel-Teams-Vowel-Pairs-Bottle-Cap-Centers-2899684" target="_blank">Vowel Teams</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Alphabet-Letters-Bottle-Cap-Centers-2764102" target="_blank">Alphabet Letters</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">which are all included in the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phonics-Bottle-Cap-Centers-MEGA-BUNDLE-3229177" target="_blank">Phonics Bottle Cap Centers bundle</a>&nbsp;along with these CVC ones! :)&nbsp;</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I also have <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bottle-Cap-Math-Centers-GROWING-BUNDLE-Special-Sale-Buy-In-Price-2702808?aref=7e1sbneb" target="_blank">Bottle Cap Math Centers</a>!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">If you love this, you may also love these posts:</span></div><div><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/10/cvc-words-roll.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">CVC Words Roll</span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/09/short-activities-and-resources.html" target="_blank">Short A Activities &amp; Resources</a> (has a TON of ideas for short vowels centers and activities)</span></div><div><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/11/tips-for-building-reading-fluency.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Tips for Building Reading Fluency</span></a></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Also - don't forget to join&nbsp;<a href="http://eepurl.com/1WAO9" target="_blank">Miss Giraffe's Class</a>&nbsp;so you never miss out on fun ideas and exclusive&nbsp;<b>free stuff</b>&nbsp;from me only for subscribers!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's a pin for you to save this post to read later if you'd like! :)</span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m2EVbySIydU/WiLgun0nj7I/AAAAAAAAGXo/gfuGLg6p9og-Ts_mOp9bRSFEdvpsR9D2wCLcBGAs/s1600/Bottle%2BCaps%2BTeaching%2BCVC%2BWords.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to recycle water bottle caps to learn CVC words! These are such fun activities!" border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="576" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m2EVbySIydU/WiLgun0nj7I/AAAAAAAAGXo/gfuGLg6p9og-Ts_mOp9bRSFEdvpsR9D2wCLcBGAs/s640/Bottle%2BCaps%2BTeaching%2BCVC%2BWords.PNG" title="How to recycle water bottle caps to learn CVC words! These are such fun activities!" width="384" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-86705476550538621582016-04-22T14:38:00.002-07:002016-09-18T15:07:35.594-07:00Composing Shapes in 1st GradeComposing Shapes is such a fun topic in first grade and kindergarten geometry! Learning how to compose 2D and 3D shapes is fun because, well, they get to build! What kid doesn't love building?<br /><div><br /></div><div>I have a TON of small group activities, centers, and ideas to share with you for teaching composing shapes that I hope your students will love!<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XlKFLguQyCw/Vxp_myRlz2I/AAAAAAAADEk/wR0d4jsBCj4KVnDNcylOaOmV3Bb0KMtXACLcB/s1600/Composing%2BShapes%2BCover.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XlKFLguQyCw/Vxp_myRlz2I/AAAAAAAADEk/wR0d4jsBCj4KVnDNcylOaOmV3Bb0KMtXACLcB/s640/Composing%2BShapes%2BCover.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>First and foremost - use pattern blocks in every activity that you can! Students are so much more engaged when they can hold and physically manipulate the shapes to build new ones.</div><div><br /></div><div>Give them time to explore.</div><div><br /></div><div>They love making pictures out of the blocks so that's an easy introductory activity to get them used to putting the blocks together to make a picture.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ydSqwuddtVM/VxqAtcOW7zI/AAAAAAAADEs/SfAws8IZoqY_p6fT2sIDkClXM0TG0-w_wCLcB/s1600/Composing%2BShapes%2BPicture%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ydSqwuddtVM/VxqAtcOW7zI/AAAAAAAADEs/SfAws8IZoqY_p6fT2sIDkClXM0TG0-w_wCLcB/s640/Composing%2BShapes%2BPicture%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Let them build whatever they want on their mat then write how many of each pattern block they used. I recommend printing out the color version of these mats and either laminating them or putting them in a sheet protector like I did above and having students use a dry erase marker to write on them. That way you can use them over and over and the kids can build and record multiple pictures in one sitting by writing and wiping.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then, in small groups, you can have them build something specific. Have each person build a flower (in their own way) or a robot, person, butterfly, a big triangle, etc. Talk to them about how they put the blocks together to make a new shape. Have them talk to each other about the shapes they used.</div><div><br /></div><div>Kids love making pictures out of the blocks... and will do it anyway whether it's an activity you give them or not, so it's best to get this out of their system early :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Once they've had fun exploring, give them activity cards to build!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3H22sLGXeMw/VxqCEAQrteI/AAAAAAAADE4/P8h1n0aJ2C4cLBZ8u3-_jPBbFuGGEC0EQCLcB/s1600/Center%2BComposing%2BShapes%2B%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3H22sLGXeMw/VxqCEAQrteI/AAAAAAAADE4/P8h1n0aJ2C4cLBZ8u3-_jPBbFuGGEC0EQCLcB/s640/Center%2BComposing%2BShapes%2B%25284%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>In small groups, show the entire group one card, place it in the center of the table so they can all see, and have them build it. Ask them questions about what shapes they used, how many shapes make up the new shape, etc.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kKeEFSrF84U/VxqC9ZrpSfI/AAAAAAAADFA/Pb4Uv_HVLyYNGzAzwmnTjJKjTQu62kdagCLcB/s1600/Center%2BComposing%2BShapes%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kKeEFSrF84U/VxqC9ZrpSfI/AAAAAAAADFA/Pb4Uv_HVLyYNGzAzwmnTjJKjTQu62kdagCLcB/s640/Center%2BComposing%2BShapes%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>If you want to make this an independent center after you use it in small groups, simply give the kids a stack of cards and a recording sheet. I made 2 sets of them so they can do the math station twice (or you could copy it back to back and give more cards to challenge higher kids). Have them take a card, build it, then color in the shapes they used for that card like this:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IzWxNuPTKvE/VxqDZacNZTI/AAAAAAAADFE/IjoGx1f6ZsQFW7RgqvKktL5M423SYM6pwCLcB/s1600/Center%2BComposing%2BShapes%2BRS%2B2D%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IzWxNuPTKvE/VxqDZacNZTI/AAAAAAAADFE/IjoGx1f6ZsQFW7RgqvKktL5M423SYM6pwCLcB/s640/Center%2BComposing%2BShapes%2BRS%2B2D%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>If you want to be referred to as the "best teacher ever" for the day, you could also incorporate <b>dough</b> into these composing shapes lessons.</div><div><br /></div><div>Give each kid at your table their own can of dough to build into a ball then have them flatten it. It's important that each child uses the entire can so it's thick enough to imprint in. Then, select a card for them to build with the pattern blocks. Have them build it <u>on top of</u>&nbsp;the flat dough.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5o2f6JEbfrU/VxqEaYGyDhI/AAAAAAAADFU/cGWypiUlge8iVGivYn8DCXthtgOiJfR4gCLcB/s1600/Center%2BComposing%2BShapes%2BDough%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5o2f6JEbfrU/VxqEaYGyDhI/AAAAAAAADFU/cGWypiUlge8iVGivYn8DCXthtgOiJfR4gCLcB/s640/Center%2BComposing%2BShapes%2BDough%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Once they've built it, have them push down really hard to imprint it into the dough. Have them hold the pieces together in place as they push so the blocks don't move away from each other. Have them <b>carefully</b> peel the pattern blocks off and it will reveal their new shape!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_31NVt3LpGQ/VxqFig9irII/AAAAAAAADFc/9czKS22CrCo8URHzKzVwaJ2t_pKvV9w9gCLcB/s1600/Center%2BComposing%2BShapes%2BDough%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_31NVt3LpGQ/VxqFig9irII/AAAAAAAADFc/9czKS22CrCo8URHzKzVwaJ2t_pKvV9w9gCLcB/s640/Center%2BComposing%2BShapes%2BDough%2B%25283%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I also made these composing shapes cards for 3D shapes. You know me, I differentiate everything I can so there are 2 sets - one where it's just combining two 3D shapes and one set where it also combines 3 shapes like in the N card seen below.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o-u6OImc15g/VxqGhtYr3oI/AAAAAAAADFk/I8jagfUFLTAu7euDWGYcKq033ap4rDPfACLcB/s1600/Center%2BComposing%2BShapes%2BRS%2B3D%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o-u6OImc15g/VxqGhtYr3oI/AAAAAAAADFk/I8jagfUFLTAu7euDWGYcKq033ap4rDPfACLcB/s640/Center%2BComposing%2BShapes%2BRS%2B3D%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Students simply look at the card and color in the 3D shapes that the new composite shape is made of. You can also have them build each card with three dimensional shape blocks if you have them.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Asking questions about which shapes were used is a great vocabulary review for geometry as well.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>If you want to incorporate the dough again, a great small groups activity is talking about what shapes make up 3D shapes. For example, show them a cylinder and point to the circle face and ask them what shape it is. They can stamp it into the dough to see that it is a circle. Do this for all the three dimensional blocks (triangular prism, rectangular prism, etc.) to see what shapes they're made of. Again, it's a great vocabulary review to talk about "faces" and apply that to real world questions.</div><div>"This rectangular prism is made of 2 square faces and 4 rectangle faces" etc.</div><div><div><br /></div><div>I also made worksheets for this skill where they just look at the picture and color in the shapes it is made out of. The star in the upper right corner of my worksheets always tell you the level (A, B, or C) that a worksheet is for easy differentiation.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pRhOJy6IjEo/VxqHZSw_flI/AAAAAAAADFs/a2N3bfM1OuweORQaYi0nyj49vCfpGWcqQCLcB/s1600/WS%2BComposing%2B3D%2BShapes%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pRhOJy6IjEo/VxqHZSw_flI/AAAAAAAADFs/a2N3bfM1OuweORQaYi0nyj49vCfpGWcqQCLcB/s320/WS%2BComposing%2B3D%2BShapes%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-scn9TRCrAfk/VxqHZUPbJSI/AAAAAAAADFw/lcPSdLXdOuUqL8r7xmlcdZXB3bbkg8LnQCLcB/s1600/WS%2BComposing%2B3D%2BShapes%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-scn9TRCrAfk/VxqHZUPbJSI/AAAAAAAADFw/lcPSdLXdOuUqL8r7xmlcdZXB3bbkg8LnQCLcB/s320/WS%2BComposing%2B3D%2BShapes%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I also made worksheets like this for 2D shapes like this one:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jFnhdYQENOA/VxqIlvDfEvI/AAAAAAAADF8/XrAa4FN2zaAnD4rXl4k-gHawTsCzynuugCLcB/s1600/WS%2BComposing%2BShapes%2BLev%2BB%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jFnhdYQENOA/VxqIlvDfEvI/AAAAAAAADF8/XrAa4FN2zaAnD4rXl4k-gHawTsCzynuugCLcB/s640/WS%2BComposing%2BShapes%2BLev%2BB%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I definitely recommend letting students use the pattern blocks to figure out these answers. Have them try to build the hexagon using each given set until they find the set that makes a perfect hexagon. You could have them build it <u>on top of</u> a hexagon block to make it easier.</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of making it easier, like I said, I differentiate everything I can so I also made an easier version where the lines are already there for them (level A - note the star in the corner). Still have them build it and color it in on their sheet to show you that they built it.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dQF0bCEensU/VxqJYvhJ1VI/AAAAAAAADGE/lEqP8ccn67QLZ3AFNI7QqHoG4KTHsphDgCLcB/s1600/WS%2BComposing%2BShapes%2BLev%2BA.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dQF0bCEensU/VxqJYvhJ1VI/AAAAAAAADGE/lEqP8ccn67QLZ3AFNI7QqHoG4KTHsphDgCLcB/s640/WS%2BComposing%2BShapes%2BLev%2BA.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>I've talked about this in <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/math.html" target="_blank">other math posts</a>,&nbsp;as well as other posts, that I think it's important to meet kids at their level but with the same activity (or at least working on the same skill) whenever you can. This activity provides the extra help struggling students might need by providing the lines but is still working on the same skill.</div><div><br /></div><div>You also want to <i>challenge</i>&nbsp;every child, including your <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/03/how-to-keep-gifted-students-engaged-and.html" target="_blank">high kids</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>A great challenge is to make big triangles!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B5N-mJDVbyY/VxqKrIXtcuI/AAAAAAAADGQ/AP87whhYGwAZzYNRwktD2HoqJl50jcxggCLcB/s1600/WS%2BFill%2BTriangles%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-B5N-mJDVbyY/VxqKrIXtcuI/AAAAAAAADGQ/AP87whhYGwAZzYNRwktD2HoqJl50jcxggCLcB/s640/WS%2BFill%2BTriangles%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div>&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div>This is obviously a little bit more challenging because they need more shapes to do it and have to fit it into the triangle perfectly without white space or overhangs. Your higher kids will love this but so will your lower kids. It's like a puzzle to them and kids LOVE puzzles. As you can see, there's a C in the upper right corner so you know it's a more challenging activity.</div><div><br /></div><div>Going off of that, a small group activity I LOVE for challenging kiddos is Grow It!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-83Okbcoofi0/VxqLNp2nRwI/AAAAAAAADGU/sar6t3xfIDoVB3ShdeGXKLS-bD0PZeWZgCLcB/s1600/Small%2BGroup%2B-%2BGrow%2BIt%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Grow the Shape is a super fun composing shapes activity to keep making the same shape but with more blocks - great critical thinking geometry activity!" border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-83Okbcoofi0/VxqLNp2nRwI/AAAAAAAADGU/sar6t3xfIDoVB3ShdeGXKLS-bD0PZeWZgCLcB/s640/Small%2BGroup%2B-%2BGrow%2BIt%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Grow the Shape is a super fun composing shapes activity to keep making the same shape but with more blocks - great critical thinking geometry activity!" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Give your kids a triangle block then tell them to make a bigger triangle.... once they do, tell them to make an even bigger triangle... and so on! You can easily differentiate by just having your higher kids make bigger and bigger triangles. It's an awesome challenge and they love doing it.&nbsp;</div></div><div><br /></div><div>You can do this with any of the shapes. Give them a hexagon and have them build a bigger one... and a bigger one... and a bigger one... You can also do it with trapezoid or the square. It's just super fun and encourages critical thinking - I really recommend it.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Another game I absolutely LOVE is Fill Me Up!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5_6n1lmrkgs/VxqMCRjhmbI/AAAAAAAADGk/JV_so_wjlxAp-kO1-u8lOH2yn7C0IqMMgCLcB/s1600/Center%2BFill%2BHexagons%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5_6n1lmrkgs/VxqMCRjhmbI/AAAAAAAADGk/JV_so_wjlxAp-kO1-u8lOH2yn7C0IqMMgCLcB/s640/Center%2BFill%2BHexagons%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Kids take turns rolling the dice to know which shape to grab and add to their hexagons. I made 2 dice - one with a hexagon and one without so you can make the game easier/harder. They can move their pieces around at any point in the game to fit new ones because their hexagons have to be filled perfectly where there is no white space and no shapes overhanging (going over the lines). The first person to perfectly fill all their hexagons wins!</div><div><br /></div><div>It's a kid favorite but I personally love it because they have to be critically thinking in order to fill their shapes perfectly and they're super motivated to manipulate them around. It's just a lot of great practice where they don't even realize how much <i>thinking</i> they're doing. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>I also included 2 different spinners so you can do spinners instead of dice. I also made a more challenging game board where they have to fill up both triangles perfectly (no white space or over hangs) to win!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h_376Yb-jPc/VxqOWGYei-I/AAAAAAAADGw/wKeWGi5U49UwA_ZurLlDbvvkS0Obdot9wCLcB/s1600/Center%2BFill%2BTriangles%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h_376Yb-jPc/VxqOWGYei-I/AAAAAAAADGw/wKeWGi5U49UwA_ZurLlDbvvkS0Obdot9wCLcB/s640/Center%2BFill%2BTriangles%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div>Another fun game to use this spinner or the dice with is a game I call Towers. It's a great partner game. Give each set of partners some pattern blocks and a shape spinner or shape dice.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VmvuDbw17k/VxqPhCNrGFI/AAAAAAAADG4/bdr101eW-a4b8QWm021q54AtlJetspC-gCLcB/s1600/Small%2BGroup%2BCenter%2B-%2BVertical%2BComposing%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5VmvuDbw17k/VxqPhCNrGFI/AAAAAAAADG4/bdr101eW-a4b8QWm021q54AtlJetspC-gCLcB/s640/Small%2BGroup%2BCenter%2B-%2BVertical%2BComposing%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>They take turns rolling the dice to know which shape to grab next like in Fill Me Up BUT each kid grabs that piece to add to their tower. Their towers will be identical. You could also have them pick their own shapes but I think it's more fun to have them look the same. That's just me though - tweak it however you want to for your class! &nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>The most fun part is that it's VERTICAL! They're building up!</div><div><br /></div><div>So Partner A rolls the dice and gets a hexagon so he puts a hexagon standing up and Partner B copies them. Then, Partner B rolls and gets a trapezoid and adds it to their tower. Partner A copies what they do. And so on. Each time they roll, they add it to their tower and the other person copies them.</div><div><br /></div><div>When someone's tower falls, the other person wins! If you don't want it to be a game where someone wins... use it as an activity where you just try to build as tall of a tower with your partner as possible before it falls. It's really fun!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3NDHDr3t2Y/VxqP6aLG6pI/AAAAAAAADG8/7NFlZSOH61kJOCaqQHTd5-hr6zCgIrUtQCLcB/s1600/Small%2BGroup%2BCenter%2B-%2BVertical%2BComposing%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b3NDHDr3t2Y/VxqP6aLG6pI/AAAAAAAADG8/7NFlZSOH61kJOCaqQHTd5-hr6zCgIrUtQCLcB/s640/Small%2BGroup%2BCenter%2B-%2BVertical%2BComposing%2B%25281%2529.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Another highly engaging way to practice is with cut and pastes! If you've read <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/math.html" target="_blank">all my math posts</a>, you know I am obsessed with cutting and pasting for math!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0Wzuyw9iTk/VxqRS7dHucI/AAAAAAAADHM/Y7DvX6hPQX45ZtLrlpLhjxGZJdG69AGzACLcB/s1600/WS%2BCP%2B-%2BComposing%2B3D%2BShapes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y0Wzuyw9iTk/VxqRS7dHucI/AAAAAAAADHM/Y7DvX6hPQX45ZtLrlpLhjxGZJdG69AGzACLcB/s640/WS%2BCP%2B-%2BComposing%2B3D%2BShapes.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="text-align: center;">Just because you're doing a cut and paste activity doesn't mean they can't use blocks!</span><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span><span style="text-align: center;">Again, the more you can use hands on materials, the better! It really just helps them build that conceptual understanding and <i>see</i>&nbsp;the new shapes they're making.</span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tgPmeIvnb0E/VxqReXihduI/AAAAAAAADHU/1M0x6G1c9joBD--3MOhn-JTqSZWVDOqlwCKgB/s1600/WS%2BCP%2B-%2BAdding%2BShapes%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tgPmeIvnb0E/VxqReXihduI/AAAAAAAADHU/1M0x6G1c9joBD--3MOhn-JTqSZWVDOqlwCKgB/s640/WS%2BCP%2B-%2BAdding%2BShapes%2B%25282%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Let them get those pieces on the paper and build it to figure out the new composite shape.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>The same thing goes for the paper and pencil worksheets. They can still use the blocks.</div><div><br /></div><div>For example, this activity asks them to figure out how many of each block they need to make a certain shape.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uvEUBfysWx0/VxqRecEG_PI/AAAAAAAADHY/5FdYs2ocImMYg8eaa1R8_J25x7iKtNygACKgB/s1600/WS%2BHow%2BMany%2Bto%2BFill.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uvEUBfysWx0/VxqRecEG_PI/AAAAAAAADHY/5FdYs2ocImMYg8eaa1R8_J25x7iKtNygACKgB/s640/WS%2BHow%2BMany%2Bto%2BFill.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>See how they "filled" a hexagon with triangles on top of it to figure out how many it took?&nbsp;</div><div>Then, for the next question, they're doing the same thing with the rhombus blocks.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>For this activity, they're supposed to make a new shape with the given ones and draw it. They can build it with blocks first on their paper then trace and color them. It's just nice to give them that added support. These worksheets can be used independently or in small groups.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OuZXcfZIwyA/VxqRgKBqEqI/AAAAAAAADHo/KlSaBt_McV4N8dKTFYbEXC3rea4e5UIqwCKgB/s1600/WS%2BMake%2BNew%2BShape%2BLev%2BB.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OuZXcfZIwyA/VxqRgKBqEqI/AAAAAAAADHo/KlSaBt_McV4N8dKTFYbEXC3rea4e5UIqwCKgB/s640/WS%2BMake%2BNew%2BShape%2BLev%2BB.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Again, the level is in the corner. See how this level C below is just a little more challenging by adding 3 blocks? I'm all about the sneaky differentiating. :)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9AX3m-oGrbQ/VxqRgV4EnTI/AAAAAAAADHo/Awtkj3KEP4Is_tpw6_G0o69e0yP6uhmzACKgB/s1600/WS%2BMake%2BNew%2BShape%2BLev%2BC.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9AX3m-oGrbQ/VxqRgV4EnTI/AAAAAAAADHo/Awtkj3KEP4Is_tpw6_G0o69e0yP6uhmzACKgB/s640/WS%2BMake%2BNew%2BShape%2BLev%2BC.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Okay, just ONE more activity and then I'll let you get back to your day. I just love sharing ideas and get excited and then these posts end up being a mile long BUT I hope they're helpful for you and that you gained some things you can take back into your classroom. I'd love to hear from you in the comments if you found this post helpful!</div><div><br /></div><div>So this activity is all about patterns!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8uDbM8FbLlE/VxqReeQu2VI/AAAAAAAADHo/fXB0iHCREyAafcCUbPMIlIRJJrf5CS35ACKgB/s1600/Small%2BGroup%2B-%2BExtend%2BPattern%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Extend the Pattern activity with pattern blocks and other fun geometry activities for practicing shapes" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8uDbM8FbLlE/VxqReeQu2VI/AAAAAAAADHo/fXB0iHCREyAafcCUbPMIlIRJJrf5CS35ACKgB/s640/Small%2BGroup%2B-%2BExtend%2BPattern%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Extend the Pattern activity with pattern blocks and other fun geometry activities for practicing shapes" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Give kids a pattern (the first one above is trapezoid + triangle/rhombus) and have them simply continue it! They can also do this with a partner where their partner starts a pattern and they extend it. It's also a great small group activity when first exploring composing shapes.</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope you've enjoyed this post! If you want the materials for any of the activities I talked about, they're ALL included in my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Math-Unit-17-1641088" target="_blank">First Grade Math Unit 17</a> and "Composing Shapes" is only ONE concept in that unit out of 5. It is <b>packed</b>&nbsp;with geometry resources for little learners!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-00bV3nyGDpk/VLGXZRH4COI/AAAAAAAAAuk/gyO5ts2AL6Ay_GGtnU7jDmfG5A0N88_ZgCKgB/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-00bV3nyGDpk/VLGXZRH4COI/AAAAAAAAAuk/gyO5ts2AL6Ay_GGtnU7jDmfG5A0N88_ZgCKgB/s400/Slide1.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Math-Unit-17-1641088" target="_blank">&nbsp;Unit 17 - Geometry: 2D &amp; 3D Shapes</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Want to read more MATH ideas from me?</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Check out some of these fun posts:</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/07/building-number-sense-in-first-grade.html">Building Number Sense</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/08/place-value-moving-and-new-blog-design.html" target="_blank">Place Value</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/02/telling-time.html" target="_blank">Telling Time</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/03/fractions-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">Fractions</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/12/adding-3-numbers.html" target="_blank">Adding 3 Numbers</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/fact-fluency-in-first-grade.html">Fact Fluency</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/making-10-to-add.html" target="_blank">Making a 10 to Add</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/02/teaching-money.html">Money</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/09/graphing-and-data-analysis-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">Graphing and Data</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Follow me&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/themissgiraffe" target="_blank">on Pinterest</a>&nbsp;for more teaching ideas!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Also - don't forget to join&nbsp;<a href="http://eepurl.com/1WAO9" target="_blank">Miss Giraffe's Class</a>&nbsp;so you never miss out on fun ideas and exclusive free stuff from me only for subscribers!</span></div></div>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-35317771220756368822016-04-15T16:17:00.000-07:002016-10-28T21:55:44.164-07:0020 Classroom Management Strategies You Can Start Right Away20 easy classroom management strategies you can start right away to help improve student behavior and build a strong, positive classroom community!<br /><br />I've been wanting to write this post for so long because I feel like it's something everyone, absolutely everyone, struggles with.<br /><br />Whether you are a brand new, first year teacher or an experienced teacher who is just one lost glue stick cap away from going crazy, these tips and tricks are for you!<br /><div><br /></div><div>It's important to have a lot of strategies in your tool box because what worked in September won't work in March and what worked with last years' group won't work with this year's group and, heck, what works with Billy won't work with Ava. The more little tricks you know and can employ, the better! Because sometimes it's just throwing darts in the dark until you find what works for each student... and then changing it up when the novelty of what's working wears off... Because it does. Oh, oh, it does.</div><div><br /></div><div>So here goes....</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">1. Move students around until you find combinations that work.</span></div><div>Don't be afraid to move them around until you find students who work well together. It's good to mix different abilities, personalities, and temperaments at tables to find the right balance. This isn't just the beginning of the year - move them around whenever you need to change a dynamic or want to switch it up.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>If you have tables, do not tape those name tags down! Use <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/must-have-classroom-supplies.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">fastener tape</a> to adhere them to the desk so you can move kids easily. I love fastener tape because you can cut it exactly how big you want it.</div><div><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G9wlf4oMssw/VxFw7o9EdgI/AAAAAAAADCw/vftEuVdlysAowP36FswVZC2i8wMzbwcNgCKgB/s1600/Slide2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Use fastener tape for name tags so you can move student seats super easily (20 Classroom Management Strategies You Can Start Right Away)" border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G9wlf4oMssw/VxFw7o9EdgI/AAAAAAAADCw/vftEuVdlysAowP36FswVZC2i8wMzbwcNgCKgB/s640/Slide2.JPG" title="Use fastener tape for name tags so you can move student seats super easily (20 Classroom Management Strategies You Can Start Right Away)" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div>If you want to move a child, you can just switch the name tags easily.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's also great for the beginning of the year when they may not know how to write their name properly or want the reference charts on it so they can bring it with them to a center or small groups.</div><div><br /></div><div>You can also have them all bring their name tag to you when they come to the carpet and mix them up to quickly make partners or groups, call on people if you draw their name tag, etc.<br /><br />It also cuts down on the <i>peeling</i>. If you've ever taped down name tags, you know what I'm talking about. The one or two kids that peel the tape at the ends of their name tags. It drives me loco.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">2. Table Points</span></div><div>This is a great way for kids to manage each other but in a collaborative way. Even your most challenging kids want to be accepted by their peers... and kids are so competitive! Even if they're not winning anything, they still want the most tally marks!</div><div><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oJRA3sxDrvY/VxFxcJT8BWI/AAAAAAAADDQ/ONMTp2z0YekyQpJ_I3kATXqLv8ksXj0CgCKgB/s1600/Slide4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oJRA3sxDrvY/VxFxcJT8BWI/AAAAAAAADDQ/ONMTp2z0YekyQpJ_I3kATXqLv8ksXj0CgCKgB/s640/Slide4.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Make sure you say exactly why they're getting a point with specific praise - things like: "I love how Table 3 is working so quietly together to do their math centers. They get a point."</div><div><br /></div><div>This is AWESOME for cleanup. Every single cleanup time can be a competition for which table is the cleanest, tidiest, doesn't have anything under it, and is done the fastest. When their table is immaculate and done, they sit with their hands folded looking at you to show they're ready and done. Once all the tables are done, do a quick 'inspection' to see which table was the fastest/quietest/cleanest and award that table a point. Also great for things like which table can open up their books to the correct page in their books the fastest. They will transition so quickly... and you will have the cleanest room ever!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">3. Students vs. Teacher</span></div><div>This is really similar to table points but they're competing against YOU! Kids get a HUGE kick out of this! Basically, if the class is working quietly or you see some great partner sharing or just&nbsp;<i>anything</i>&nbsp;that you can compliment them for, give them a point (tally). If they're not doing what they should be, YOU get a point (tally).</div><div><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jcjj1xbKCHE/VxFw76ZSEVI/AAAAAAAADC0/VqZ7xXCc00UYF2GUi8t4fxbUxkboIaBEACKgB/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Students vs. Teacher classroom management idea where kids compete with you for points - effective and fun! (20 Classroom Management Strategies You Can Start Right Away)" border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Jcjj1xbKCHE/VxFw76ZSEVI/AAAAAAAADC0/VqZ7xXCc00UYF2GUi8t4fxbUxkboIaBEACKgB/s640/Slide1.JPG" title="Students vs. Teacher classroom management idea where kids compete with you for points - effective and fun! (20 Classroom Management Strategies You Can Start Right Away)" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Again, say why you're giving them a point ("Wow! You guys cleaned up after centers so well!") or why YOU are getting a point instead ("It's super noisy in here. Point for me.")<br /><br />I also show how you can do this with ten frames and math cubes in my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/10/25-chatty-class-classroom-management.html" target="_blank">Chatty Class Classroom Management Strategies</a> post. I recommend reading the rest of this post first and then that post for a ton of tips.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Some people may say you're making it a you vs. them type deal but as long as you keep it super positive and it's all in good fun, it's a great management tool. It's also awesome if it can be tied to something - if they get to 20 points, they get an extra 10 minute recess or a fun dance break after every 10 or if they're winning at the end of the day, they get free time the last 10 minutes of the day. Whatever works for you and your class!</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">4. The Compliment Circle</span></div><div><b>This is one of my favorite things ever. I know it's long-ish but read this and watch your classroom change.&nbsp;</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Young kids love to talk, they love to share, they love to feel special, they love to be loved, and they love to feel accepted. This does all of those things for every single student all in one quick activity. If your kids are <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/01/how-to-tackle-tattling-in-classroom.html" target="_blank">tattling like crazy</a> or are just not getting along, this activity can help SO much!</div><div><br /></div><div>Bring all of your students to the carpet and have them sit on the edge of the carpet (like the ends) so they create a rectangle. If you don't have a rectangle shaped carpet or do this outside or something, have them sit in a circle. By the way, if you've never had them make a circle before, you're going to laugh when you realize they totally have no idea how to do this. To teach them, have them hold hands with the person next to them and go lock up the 2 ends. Then, have them take steps back until their arms are stretched out and they look like a circle. You may have to bring some forward and push some back to help them out but they figure it out fairly quickly. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway! Now that they're all sitting, have them put their legs straight out in front of them.</div><div>YOU should sit down with them and be a part of the community, legs straight out.</div><div><br /></div><div>Bring out a stuffed animal and tell them that the only person who may talk is the person holding the stuffed animal. Let them know that if their legs are out, that means they have <u>not</u> been complimented yet and are ready for a compliment. The person holding the bear will pick someone with their legs out to compliment. Once they've been complimented, that person brings in their legs to sit criss cross and that is how you know they've already been complimented. The person who complimented them will pass the bear to the person next to them. That person will pick someone with their legs out to compliment (who will criss cross their legs and say, "Thank you" once the person is done) then pass the bear to the next person. The status of your legs doesn't affect whether or not you get the bear - even if your legs are criss cross, you still give a compliment. It's THE BEST because every single child compliments someone <i>and</i>&nbsp;receives a personal compliment. By the time the stuffed animal gets back to you, everyone has had a turn both complimenting and being complimented. The person who receives a compliment should say thank you to the compliment giver as they cross their legs.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>You have no idea until you try it how much classroom community it will bring. You will see them doing nice things for each other so that they get complimented later because you will model for them that compliments should be for <i>kind actions</i>. Model model model before you do it and you always go first to start the circle by choosing a student to compliment (man oh man do you make that kiddos' day when YOU, the teacher, compliment them :)). Explain how "I love how you helped me when I fell down at recess" or "You did a great job cleaning up after math centers" are great compliments. Tell them to watch out for others doing kind things so they have compliments ready. They will get better and better at it and it is just a warm fuzzy awesome feeling. The smiles on their faces when they get complimented by a peer is worth more than gold. It's great to do at the end of the day - send them home with their hearts full.</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">5. Help kids be self-sufficient.</span></div><div>Have a little "I Can Take Care of Myself" bucket. Put bandages in there so if they have a little cut or need a bandage, they can get it themselves to put it on. Besides you not having to stop what you're doing to get them a bandage, this will also save a lot of "Can I go to the nurse?" questions. They can just patch themselves up themselves.</div><div><br /></div><div>Another thing that helps with that is Ouchie Lotion!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UtqL6HbFOUI/VxFxceJbz0I/AAAAAAAADDU/WnSsyDl18FoMC9gdv6gp_xkC0PbtRC3ZACKgB/s1600/Slide5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ouchie Lotion is perfect for those &quot;My arm hurts! Can I go to the nurse?&quot; questions... a squirt of Ouchie Lotion and they're magically better! Click to get the FREE label and read more fun classroom management strategies and ideas!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UtqL6HbFOUI/VxFxceJbz0I/AAAAAAAADDU/WnSsyDl18FoMC9gdv6gp_xkC0PbtRC3ZACKgB/s640/Slide5.JPG" title="Ouchie Lotion is perfect for those &quot;My arm hurts! Can I go to the nurse?&quot; questions... a squirt of Ouchie Lotion and they're magically better! Click to get the FREE label and read more fun classroom management strategies and ideas!" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Do you get "My arm hurts. Can I go to the nurse?" type questions? Or a kid falls in class and then wants to go to the nurse? Never fear, there's Ouchie Lotion. Simply write/type "Ouchie Lotion" onto a piece of paper (or grab my free label&nbsp;<a href="http://bitly.com/ClassLabels" target="_blank">here</a>) and wrap it around a bottle of lotion. If something "hurts," they&nbsp;can go get a little squirt (teach them 1 squirt only!) to rub on what hurts and somehow, magically, they seem to feel better.<br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">6. Hand signals for questions!</span></div><div>You definitely need hand signals! You have 2 dozen little kiddos that need to use the restroom, get a drink, what have you, during the day. That's A LOT of questions in a single day and it's hardly ever a convenient time. It's SO nice to know exactly what a kid needs just by looking at them. A raised hand tells you nothing... so have hand signals! Have them hold up 1 finger to ask for a drink and 2 fingers to ask to use the restroom. Teach them that you will give them a thumbs up for yes or a thumbs down for no. That way, you can have totally nonverbal communication for those simple requests that's quick and effective. You could make a 3 fingers cue if you have something else they ask a lot. If they're raising their hand normally, they must have a question or want to tell you something.&nbsp;</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">7. Give specific compliments constantly.</span></div><div>Nothing makes kids scramble to do well more than hearing another child be praised for it.&nbsp;</div></div><div>"I love how Matthew has his book open to the correct page with his finger on the first word and is ready to read" will get all your kids scrambling to do the same. Instead of redirecting a kid who is doing the wrong thing, compliment a child who is doing the right thing out loud. This leads me to...</div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">8. Use their name!</span></div><div><div>Always use their names in compliments when you can. The other kids will want to hear their name too. They want your love/attention so show them the way to get it is to make good choices.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Also use their name for redirects in a super sly way where it just flows within your sentence.&nbsp;</div><div>If John is staring off into space or playing in his desk while you're teaching, work his name into your sentence like this:</div><div>"Some animals are nocturnal, John, which means they are active at night and sleep during the day."</div><div>Let it flow so the other kids don't notice but it will jolt John back into the lesson.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">9. Have a check-out system for leaving the room.</span></div><div>It can be hectic remembering all of the pullout schedules or what kid is where when they're constantly going to the restroom/nurse/office/pullouts but it's obviously super important to always know where each child is. What if there's a fire drill? What if the SLP comes to pull out a kid for speech and you don't know where they are? What if their mom comes to get them and their desk is empty? EEK!</div></div><div><br /></div><div>I present to you... "Where Am I?" cups!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NKU4LQOzV20/VxFxavou-hI/AAAAAAAADDI/CrsFv73XpHUA8jNu8PvLFkeH5l2wwLG9QCKgB/s1600/Slide3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="20 Classroom Management Strategies You Can Start Right Away - Classroom check out cups!! Kids put the cup of where they're going at their desk any time they leave the classroom - do a different color cup for restroom, office, nurse, speech, etc. so you can easily see where every student is!" border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NKU4LQOzV20/VxFxavou-hI/AAAAAAAADDI/CrsFv73XpHUA8jNu8PvLFkeH5l2wwLG9QCKgB/s400/Slide3.JPG" title="20 Classroom Management Strategies You Can Start Right Away - Classroom check out cups!! Kids put the cup of where they're going at their desk any time they leave the classroom - do a different color cup for restroom, office, nurse, speech, etc. so you can easily see where every student is!" width="300" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Any time a student leaves the room, they MUST put one of the cups on their desk or at their table spot so you can look at their spot and know exactly where they are.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Have at least 2 cups for the restroom, office, nurse, etc., as many cups as you need for pullouts like speech/gifted/etc., or anywhere else a student might leave the classroom.<br /><br />I highly recommend having them each <b>in a different color </b>so you don't have to walk to the cup to read it. If your "Restroom" cup is blue, you can just look at the child's desk and know they're in the restroom if there's a blue cup on their desk. If your "Nurse" cup is red and there is a red cup on their desk, you don't even have to read it to know where they are... and so on. When they come back to the classroom, they put the cup back in the cup stack. Simply stack the cups somewhere where they can grab the cup they need when they need to go somewhere.</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">10. Have a "I'm Lost" bin.</span></div><div>When cleaning up, sometimes kids will find the weirdest things that don't really have a home. Maybe it's a math manipulative or center card from a center you did weeks ago and already put away but somehow wasn't found until just now. Maybe it's *gasp* a marker cap with no capless marker in sight. Maybe it's a child's hair tie. If you don't have a home for these homeless items, they will end up on your desk or in your hands. Have you ever emptied your pockets when you got home to find dice, hair ties, and marker caps? Yeah, this will fix that.</div></div><div><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4LcAGI7SER8/VxFxaVKv2qI/AAAAAAAADDA/RkF8O2vfpqw0rSEk1lEbUzWUVNKoKoisACKgB/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="20 Classroom Management Strategies You Can Start Right Away - Click to get this FREE &quot;I'm Lost!&quot; label to label a bucket where lost classroom pieces can go instead of in your pocket or on your desk!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4LcAGI7SER8/VxFxaVKv2qI/AAAAAAAADDA/RkF8O2vfpqw0rSEk1lEbUzWUVNKoKoisACKgB/s640/Slide1.JPG" title="20 Classroom Management Strategies You Can Start Right Away - Click to get this FREE &quot;I'm Lost!&quot; label to label a bucket where lost classroom pieces can go instead of in your pocket or on your desk!" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>They'll have a place to put those things for the time being and not have to ask you about it. Then, you can look through it at your leisure to help put them away or make it a responsible students' job.<br /><br />You can grab my label&nbsp;<a href="http://bitly.com/ClassLabels" target="_blank">here</a>!</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">11. Outlaw tattling.</span></div><div>If tattling is an issue in your class, read my post all about <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/01/how-to-tackle-tattling-in-classroom.html" target="_blank">How to Tackle Tattling in the Classroom</a>&nbsp;for a lot of tips!</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">12. Have fun, consistent ways to get their attention.</span></div><div>There are a lot of fun attention calls but I think it's most effective to keep it the same expectation/call back every single time BUT with a twist.</div><div><br />Pick something you always say that students always say the same response back to but change the <i>way</i>&nbsp;you say it.</div><div><br /></div><div>For example, I like "Kiddos kiddos" that the students always respond "What what" to. BUT however you say "Kiddos kiddos," they have to say "What what" in the same way. If you say it in a normal voice, they do too. If you say it in a high pitched sing song-y voice, they do too. If you say it in a monster growly voice, they do too. If you streeeeetch it out (kiiiiiiddddddooooos kiiiiiiidddddddooooos), they do too (whaaaaaaat whaaaaat). You can do so many different variations! I think keeping it the same actual words is nice so they all know/remember and it just becomes habit but you can keep it fun/engaging by changing up the way you say it and they will think it's funny! You can yodel it, you can sing it, you can growl it, whatever to get their attention. :)&nbsp;</div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">13. Use fingers for multi-step directions.</span></div><div>Some students can really struggle with multi-step directions... and some kids just straight up do not listen to directions - they just tune out when you start explaining what to do. Sound familiar?? An easy way to fix this is to break directions up into short pieces, number them, and have them repeat what you say! Have the procedure always be the same.</div></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Example: You say "Direction Time!" clapping each word and students all immediately turn to you and say "Direction Time!" clapping each word then clasping their hands. They should whip around and do this quickly and in unison. Practice it. Then, you say "Step 1" while holding up 1 finger. They should immediately hold up 1 finger but not say "Step 1" because you're going to continue talking. You and all of the students are now holding up 1 finger while you say, "Do your math station activity." and they repeat it and say, "Do your math station activity." You say "Step 2" and hold up 2 fingers which you/they should all change to holding up 2 fingers. Tell them the second step, "Clean it up." which they repeat. You say "Step 3" and you/they change to 3 fingers. Then you say, "Write in your math journal." and they repeat. Then, quickly review all 3 steps with them again the same way (a second time) with all of you holding up your fingers for each step. It may seem robotic but if they're struggling with knowing what to do, this is a really effective way to help them with multi-step directions. If your directions seem too long for them to repeat, then your directions are too long/convoluted and that's why they're struggling. Put each step into small, manageable, clear chunks. You can also have them turn and tell the person next to them the 3 steps. You can also ask them to tell you. Hold up a finger and have them chorally tell you the step for each step. It should be quick though! You don't want to bore them with directions... but if you get a lot of "What do I do now?" questions, incorporate this quick strategy and see how it works!</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">14. Stick Stars</span></div><div>Have a cup of craft sticks with each kids' name on it. Every so often, shake the cup (so they can hear the craft sticks rattling) and pick a stick out of it. If that child is doing what they're supposed to do, congratulate them and give them whatever your classroom currency is (point, ticket, pom ball, whatever you use). If you don't have a currency, let them come get a sticker or something. If the person ISN'T on a task, you simply put the stick back in the cup and say something like, "Oh they're not on task." Don't humiliate a student by saying the name then saying they're not doing what they're supposed to. That will make every single kid who wasn't doing what they were supposed to think, "Aw man! I bet it was me! I should've been ____." so it's effective for redirecting multiple kids at once. Honestly, if your class is being a little crazy, you can just pretend to look at a stick and say, "Oh they're not on task." Feel free to quickly glance at the students that were particularly off task. It's an awesome redirect. Just the rattling of that cup makes every kid check themselves. :)</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96q8skm6WDY/VxFxac1k58I/AAAAAAAADDo/6CUlKd6pRRI72h65-FHDgG5l7IzAKq3PwCKgB/s1600/Slide2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Stick Stars is an AWESOME classroom management idea - click to read about it! (20 Classroom Management Strategies You Can Start Right Away)" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96q8skm6WDY/VxFxac1k58I/AAAAAAAADDo/6CUlKd6pRRI72h65-FHDgG5l7IzAKq3PwCKgB/s640/Slide2.JPG" title="Stick Stars is an AWESOME classroom management idea - click to read about it! (20 Classroom Management Strategies You Can Start Right Away)" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">15. Show your students love! Talk to them.</span></div><div>You may be the only smile or hug or attention they get from an adult all day. Parents are busy. Some parents work long hours and simply aren't around. Some parents are technically there but are checking social media on their cell phones instead of asking their kids about their day. Kids need love. Kids need attention. Kids need to share their thoughts and excitements and feelings with others.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>If a kid is acting out, go put your arm around them and show them you care.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>If they know you love them, they'll want to be good for you. They still might struggle with it but if they are trying their best because they love you, that's all you can ask for.<br /><br />Try to find a moment each day to connect with each child. Let them tell you about what they did with their cousins over the weekend or something funny that happened on the playground or about their new toy. Just one minute of listening will mean so much to them. Can you imagine going all day without your teacher talking to you once other than telling you what to do? It's so easy to get busy with all you have to fit into the day and all the transitions to not take the time to build relationships but it's so important. Just a quick going over and saying "Good work" with a pat on the shoulder or a high five and a smile when they enter the room or a hug and "how are you doing?" in the morning - whatever, just any positive interaction to show them some love.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">16. The whisper trick.</span></div><div>If your kids are being too noisy, tell them today is a whisper day. They're only allowed to whisper. You also will only whisper so they have to be really quiet if they want to hear your directions.<br />Some kids have ridiculously loud "whisper" voices so you may have to model for them :)&nbsp;</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">17. Change your behavior chart regularly.</span></div><div>If your school uses classroom behavior clip charts, change them out regularly!<br />These can be really effective but they lose their effectiveness for some kids... but NOT if the chart changes each month and is new and exciting! Even when there's rewards involved, kids get bored quickly.<br /><br />For these charts - always use it as a positive reinforcement - you want kids to be motivated to move UP the chart to get the new honor/award certificate to bring to their parents, <i>not</i>&nbsp;fear moving down. Make moving up a big deal ("Oh Sara, I love the way you helped Table 2 clean up. You can clip up!" out loud) but keep clipping down more private between you and that child. It's much more effective if the kids view it as a positive challenge.<br /><br />ANYWAY! The trick to switching it out and having that not waste any instructional time is to simply keep the colors the same. So let's say at the beginning of the year, you start out with a plain behavior chart like one of these - fancy glitter polkadots or plain colorful chevron (click on any of them to see more close up):<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g7auPAO5d7I/VxERe51GpFI/AAAAAAAADAo/SwkshjEINFwNxiLYaC9JYS1PX-hlvSZ1wCLcB/s1600/BehaviorClipChart%2BPolkadots%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fancy polkadots behavior chart" border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g7auPAO5d7I/VxERe51GpFI/AAAAAAAADAo/SwkshjEINFwNxiLYaC9JYS1PX-hlvSZ1wCLcB/s320/BehaviorClipChart%2BPolkadots%2BPROMO.jpg" title="Fancy polkadots behavior chart" width="240" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VXEWIuuTZcM/VxESJ68OE0I/AAAAAAAADA0/wNiBmW6Bj5ozVZ-d-dnmu1S9l_gGY7ZRACLcB/s1600/BehaviorClipChart%2BChevron%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chevron behavior clip chart" border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VXEWIuuTZcM/VxESJ68OE0I/AAAAAAAADA0/wNiBmW6Bj5ozVZ-d-dnmu1S9l_gGY7ZRACLcB/s320/BehaviorClipChart%2BChevron%2BPROMO.jpg" title="Chevron behavior clip chart" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Clip-Chart-1999599" target="_blank">Fancy Polkadots Behavior Chart</a> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Chart-871381" target="_blank">Chevron Behavior Chart</a></div><br />Each kids' clothespin (with their name or number on it) starts on the green "Ready to Learn" each day.<br /><br />They can move up for better choices or down for poor choices. If they get to the top (which you should make a really special thing - only 1 child, maybe 2, per day if even that), everyone claps for them as soon as you tell them to clip up (trust me, they're all watching once someone is on purple!) and at the end of the day, you give them a Star Student Award to take home to their family. It's a big deal, folks.<br /><br />I like these simple charts for teaching the colors and process.<br /><br />BUT THEN... in October... they'll walk in one day to find...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZ6TNSzqALM/VxES7zkV-2I/AAAAAAAADBA/7JMN_oBgEd0P69yCuUx1Y0-PqKgkAlZIwCLcB/s1600/BehaviorClipChart%2BHalloween%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Halloween behavior chart - check these out! There's ones for every holiday!" border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eZ6TNSzqALM/VxES7zkV-2I/AAAAAAAADBA/7JMN_oBgEd0P69yCuUx1Y0-PqKgkAlZIwCLcB/s400/BehaviorClipChart%2BHalloween%2BPROMO.jpg" title="Halloween behavior chart - check these out! There's ones for every holiday!" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Halloween-Clip-Chart-873546" target="_blank">October / Halloween Behavior Chart</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They'll come in the morning to see the chart has changed! They'll be shocked! Seriously shocked.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They will already know how to use it because the colors have remained the same but now there are <b>different fun words and pictures to aspire to</b>. They <i>love</i>&nbsp;this. <i>Now</i>&nbsp;everyone wants the brand new Perfect Pumpkin Award... and I also recommend buying a pack of cute Halloween pencils or something to give them with their award if they get to the top.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The best thing is that every month, they get revitalized about the behavior chart and re-motivated to climb it because you switch it out each month. &amp; they get super excited when they know the next day is a new month and a new behavior chart is coming. So it's the end of October so you put out... (click any picture around the 'Pin me' button to see it closer)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2MTix9PmQf8/VxEUcySsZEI/AAAAAAAADBg/fVerXDBzsOokCVoPQzoz7G3GQ6ZH5k64wCLcB/s1600/ClipChart%2BThanksgiving%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Top Turkey Thanksgiving behavior chart - check these out! There's ones for every holiday!" border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2MTix9PmQf8/VxEUcySsZEI/AAAAAAAADBg/fVerXDBzsOokCVoPQzoz7G3GQ6ZH5k64wCLcB/s320/ClipChart%2BThanksgiving%2BPROMO.jpg" title="Top Turkey Thanksgiving behavior chart - check these out! There's ones for every holiday!" width="240" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jtAVEEC00Aw/VxEUZQkQWaI/AAAAAAAADBM/yk24cazsbmYir2FG1nzhnS_Y2UQy4GrgACLcB/s1600/ClipChart%2BChristmas%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas behavior chart - check these out! There's ones for every holiday!" border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jtAVEEC00Aw/VxEUZQkQWaI/AAAAAAAADBM/yk24cazsbmYir2FG1nzhnS_Y2UQy4GrgACLcB/s320/ClipChart%2BChristmas%2BPROMO.jpg" title="Christmas behavior chart - check these out! There's ones for every holiday!" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Thanksgiving-Behavior-Chart-2184978" target="_blank">November / Thanksgiving</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Behavior-Chart-2244475" target="_blank">December / Christmas</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ELqwyACbs0/VxEUdpUTBMI/AAAAAAAADBs/6Lgedb6aK_050Xv-hEuOWBiSZTgdruuKACLcB/s1600/ClipChart%2BWinter%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Winter behavior chart - click to read how she changes them out monthly to keep classroom management exciting!" border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1ELqwyACbs0/VxEUdpUTBMI/AAAAAAAADBs/6Lgedb6aK_050Xv-hEuOWBiSZTgdruuKACLcB/s320/ClipChart%2BWinter%2BPROMO.jpg" title="Winter behavior chart - click to read how she changes them out monthly to keep classroom management exciting!" width="240" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-isVaZRHx9-U/VxEUdpbfMCI/AAAAAAAADBo/u_xfPP9itTI6aefz9VWvZuiw0Uti553SgCLcB/s1600/ClipChart%2BValentinesDay%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Valentine's Day behavior chart - I love switching them out every month for awesome classroom management" border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-isVaZRHx9-U/VxEUdpbfMCI/AAAAAAAADBo/u_xfPP9itTI6aefz9VWvZuiw0Uti553SgCLcB/s320/ClipChart%2BValentinesDay%2BPROMO.jpg" title="Valentine's Day behavior chart - I love switching them out every month for awesome classroom management" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Behavior-Chart-2283001" target="_blank">January / Winter</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Valentines-Day-Behavior-Chart-2362476" target="_blank">February / Valentine's Day</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">&nbsp;<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--I4DOaV4-Zo/VxEUZgStT2I/AAAAAAAADBQ/2-NAKwCIMqwqE8nBWHVKFCWk_ky0-iKAACLcB/s1600/ClipChart%2BSt%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="St. Patrick's Day behavior chart - these are so much fun! Click to see them all!" border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--I4DOaV4-Zo/VxEUZgStT2I/AAAAAAAADBQ/2-NAKwCIMqwqE8nBWHVKFCWk_ky0-iKAACLcB/s320/ClipChart%2BSt%2BPatricks%2BDay%2BPROMO.jpg" title="St. Patrick's Day behavior chart - these are so much fun! Click to see them all!" width="240" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TG5NWY545K0/VxEUZjjrQ8I/AAAAAAAADBU/vvG3-vdPyNcpQRfCXkgcs-eXMNNoB801wCLcB/s1600/ClipChart%2BSpring%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Spring behavior chart - these are so much fun! Click to see them all!" border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TG5NWY545K0/VxEUZjjrQ8I/AAAAAAAADBU/vvG3-vdPyNcpQRfCXkgcs-eXMNNoB801wCLcB/s320/ClipChart%2BSpring%2BPROMO.jpg" title="Spring behavior chart - these are so much fun! Click to see them all!" width="240" /></a></div>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/St-Patricks-Day-Behavior-Chart-2431764" target="_blank">March / St. Patrick's Day</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Spring-Behavior-Chart-2476999" target="_blank">April / Spring</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I seriously love these! Kids get a big kick out of them and it's just so easy to switch them out each month.&nbsp;</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Side note - Personally, I believe that kids should be able to clip up or down in any direction any time. So if they clip down to yellow for a poor choice in the morning, their whole day isn't ruined. This makes it a lot more positive and lets them make up for their behavior. You don't want them to be defined for the entire day by one mistake - let them work hard to go back up and, when they know that's an option, they'll be extra careful to try to do well to get back to green. If you make clipping down permanent, they'll most likely give up trying for the day and you don't want that. A clip down should be a motivation and reminder to do better rather than a punishment. They should also only ever clip up or down one color at a time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can also further use it as management by calling kids to activities (everyone always wants to be first, right??) by what color they're on. "All people on purple get in line for recess. [let them line up] Alright, now blues [let them line up] Anyone on green" etc. You can also say only kids on green or above can do the free choice activity at the end of the day or what have you so that students who clipped down are encouraged to try hard to clip back up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also have other fun themes if you just want to switch it out for fun or to match a unit of study. For example, I have cowboy themes, different sports, etc.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dRUt2X8INko/VxEW8sSMpLI/AAAAAAAADCQ/o5xDJVtPfBYObfzB-W2yxvCY5UlAqEd_ACLcB/s1600/BehaviorClipChart%2BSpace%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Space behavior chart for space theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dRUt2X8INko/VxEW8sSMpLI/AAAAAAAADCQ/o5xDJVtPfBYObfzB-W2yxvCY5UlAqEd_ACLcB/s320/BehaviorClipChart%2BSpace%2BPROMO.jpg" title="Space behavior chart for space theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" width="240" /></a><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1fb3uWpB0a8/VxEW9GYL6TI/AAAAAAAADCU/2Q2F1qYbcW0WGyIGslsvrzbTdGkSZYo8QCLcB/s1600/BehaviorClipChart%2BWestern%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Cowboy behavior chart for western theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1fb3uWpB0a8/VxEW9GYL6TI/AAAAAAAADCU/2Q2F1qYbcW0WGyIGslsvrzbTdGkSZYo8QCLcB/s320/BehaviorClipChart%2BWestern%2BPROMO.jpg" title="Cowboy behavior chart for western theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Chart-2003248" target="_blank">Space</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Chart-2006972" target="_blank">Cowboy / Western</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--6d3jvz1umY/VxEW6wC7XXI/AAAAAAAADCI/lsEc-R7ejKAhLMzPg9bJhG_ExA-8WG2EQCLcB/s1600/BehaviorClipChart%2BSoccer%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Soccer behavior chart for sports theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/--6d3jvz1umY/VxEW6wC7XXI/AAAAAAAADCI/lsEc-R7ejKAhLMzPg9bJhG_ExA-8WG2EQCLcB/s320/BehaviorClipChart%2BSoccer%2BPROMO.jpg" title="Soccer behavior chart for sports theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" width="240" /></a><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t1FLN5g1Maw/VxEW59931wI/AAAAAAAADCA/WFjDqD1eOAQLezhBLRBaPiX-dqc4gss5ACLcB/s1600/BehaviorClipChart%2BFootball%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Football behavior chart for sports theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t1FLN5g1Maw/VxEW59931wI/AAAAAAAADCA/WFjDqD1eOAQLezhBLRBaPiX-dqc4gss5ACLcB/s320/BehaviorClipChart%2BFootball%2BPROMO.jpg" title="Football behavior chart for sports theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Chart-1985530" target="_blank">Soccer</a> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Chart-1678466" target="_blank">Football</a></div><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2G3UTiioe8/V74iB7PL3YI/AAAAAAAADdU/PlpSvz0k5l46MQjTwRgD0_D5mHjH8nGCgCLcB/s1600/BehaviorClipChart%2BBaseball%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Baseball behavior chart for sports theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c2G3UTiioe8/V74iB7PL3YI/AAAAAAAADdU/PlpSvz0k5l46MQjTwRgD0_D5mHjH8nGCgCLcB/s320/BehaviorClipChart%2BBaseball%2BPROMO.jpg" title="Baseball behavior chart for sports theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" width="240" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zes1CWgpOLI/V74iHpvvNJI/AAAAAAAADdY/skdNYPsZPQ8yHGumdQz1yxsIz9PkLcovACLcB/s1600/BehaviorClipChart%2BBasketball%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img alt="Basketball behavior chart for sports theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zes1CWgpOLI/V74iHpvvNJI/AAAAAAAADdY/skdNYPsZPQ8yHGumdQz1yxsIz9PkLcovACLcB/s320/BehaviorClipChart%2BBasketball%2BPROMO.jpg" title="Basketball behavior chart for sports theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" width="240" /></a><br />&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Chart-1390794" target="_blank">Baseball</a> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Basketball-Behavior-Clip-Chart-2722198" target="_blank">Basketball</a> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x32uVtUbTCs/V74iHtG1pkI/AAAAAAAADdc/fsDmmWdUHIAf2BU0NbfdK5WkbIge3jaKgCLcB/s1600/BehaviorClipChart%2BCircus%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Circus behavior chart for circus theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x32uVtUbTCs/V74iHtG1pkI/AAAAAAAADdc/fsDmmWdUHIAf2BU0NbfdK5WkbIge3jaKgCLcB/s320/BehaviorClipChart%2BCircus%2BPROMO.jpg" title="Circus behavior chart for circus theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" width="240" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Xz-WF863CM/V74aox46VBI/AAAAAAAADc4/zkdzWs0RLzY0WJLAiknbpUbSh1FgPfQUACLcB/s1600/BehaviorClipChart%2BFrogs%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Frogs behavior chart for frog theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1Xz-WF863CM/V74aox46VBI/AAAAAAAADc4/zkdzWs0RLzY0WJLAiknbpUbSh1FgPfQUACLcB/s320/BehaviorClipChart%2BFrogs%2BPROMO.jpg" title="Frogs behavior chart for frog theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Circus-Theme-Behavior-Clip-Chart-2724839" target="_blank">Circus</a> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Frogs-Theme-Behavior-Clip-Chart-2732473" target="_blank">Frogs</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dod9gSJIAUY/V74aqt96exI/AAAAAAAADdE/1ML64DpA7Wo5a6Z_HRojNVz6pMn8oZVkwCLcB/s1600/BehaviorClipChart%2BSailor%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sailor behavior chart for nautical theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dod9gSJIAUY/V74aqt96exI/AAAAAAAADdE/1ML64DpA7Wo5a6Z_HRojNVz6pMn8oZVkwCLcB/s320/BehaviorClipChart%2BSailor%2BPROMO.jpg" title="Sailor behavior chart for nautical theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" width="240" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w1aFlErzqjI/V74ao_ZwOUI/AAAAAAAADdA/PPKip5tEF5IHddxIAZ1hQs3FbYI59RjVACLcB/s1600/BehaviorClipChart%2BOcean%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Under the Sea behavior chart for ocean theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w1aFlErzqjI/V74ao_ZwOUI/AAAAAAAADdA/PPKip5tEF5IHddxIAZ1hQs3FbYI59RjVACLcB/s320/BehaviorClipChart%2BOcean%2BPROMO.jpg" title="Under the Sea behavior chart for ocean theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Nautical-Theme-Sailor-Behavior-Clip-Chart-2732471" target="_blank">Nautical Theme: Sailors</a>&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Under-the-Sea-Behavior-Chart-Ocean-Theme-Classroom-2736318" target="_blank">Ocean</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eOkGzcrzuc0/V74aoz7SLVI/AAAAAAAADc8/tRJcYsKZ51cLgTr_3sYRZCCkvNft7TYYACLcB/s1600/BehaviorClipChart%2BPirates%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Pirate behavior chart for pirate theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eOkGzcrzuc0/V74aoz7SLVI/AAAAAAAADc8/tRJcYsKZ51cLgTr_3sYRZCCkvNft7TYYACLcB/s320/BehaviorClipChart%2BPirates%2BPROMO.jpg" title="Pirate behavior chart for pirate theme classroom a bunch of other fun behavior clip charts!" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pirates-Behavior-Chart-2732476" target="_blank">Pirates Behavior Chart</a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Switch them out any time they start to lose their luster! Like I said, since the colors stay the same, you don't have to explain them at all. Just put them up and go!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have all of my behavior charts in a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Charts-BUNDLE-2507269" target="_blank">big bundle</a> if you want them all!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">18. Keep super high expectations always.</span></div><div>If you let them slide with something one time, they remember that. Forever.<br /><br />Kids are constantly testing their limits and you, so you have to be consistent with your high expectations. If your expectation is that every kid is sitting criss-cross with their hands folded looking at you when you're speaking, that's what it needs to always be. If 2 kids are still talking and you begin talking, that shows them that you'll talk anyway. It will take a lot of time training in the beginning but will save so much time throughout the year when they know/abide by your expectations.<br /><br />If you don't allow kids to interrupt you while you're teaching small group, don't ever allow it. If you let just 1 kid come up and ask you a question and you answer, they'll <i>all</i> see and know that it's okay sometimes to do that. Nope. It seems faster and easier in the moment to just answer that child but don't do it - tell them to sit down in 2 words or less. Or ignore them completely so they realize they're not asking/behaving in the correct way. They get no attention unless they do what the expectation is, whether that is to sit down with their hand raised, ask a friend, etc. <i>Don't </i>say something like, "Yes, you can go to the restroom but next time, raise your hand." Never do that! They're not going to raise their hand next time because they got what they wanted without doing it this time and they (and everyone else who saw/heard) will remember that.<br /><br />It probably sounds harsh to ignore them but you only have to do it for a little bit before they realize that you're serious about your expectations and that they won't get what they're seeking unless they follow the rules. Don't ever let your expectations slide. I can't stress that enough! I truly think it's the key to classroom management. If they see you let a rule slide for 1 person, they will try it themselves over and over... and those adorable littles are watching/listening to everything to see how you respond to situations. You can still be super loving about it. They just know the way to get your attention is by following the rules. This is a great time to compliment, compliment, compliment. "Thanks Aiden for raising your hand and being so patient. What do you need?"&nbsp;</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">19. Practice EVERYTHING.</span></div><div>Whenever you introduce a new procedure, routine, center, anything - practice, practice, practice! Practice walking in a line, how to get a book from the classroom library and how to put it back, how to quietly walk to the drinking fountain and back, how to get your folder, everything. Practice until it's perfect. If ever they start to slip at any time of the year, practice it again like it's the first day of school. When you come back from breaks, sometimes they forget to ask permission to leave their seat or all of a sudden have an appetite for eating paper... Practice and model correct behavior again. Don't be afraid to practice how to line up for the bathroom in December - sometimes they need a reminder.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">20. Remember they're just kids. <i>Your</i> kids.</span></div><div>If you ask me, it is C.R.A.Z.Y. the expectations schools have for kids these days. For how much content they are expected to learn in a single year in early elementary. For how compliant they are expected to act all day. Kids work so, so hard. With few breaks and little recess at many schools. Keep your high expectations but <span style="font-size: large;"><b>love them anyway</b></span>&nbsp;even when they can't manage to meet them.<br /><br />They love you. You love them. You spend all day together and your smile might be the only one they get from an adult all day. Your hug might be the only hug they get from an adult that week. I know I said this already but it's really important. If they draw you a picture, act like it's the best gift. If they bring you a "cool" rock from the playground, act like it's the best gift. A rock may not be best gift but it's probably all they had to give and they gave it to you instead of keeping it for themselves.<br /><br />When a kid is just driving you bananas, wait for a moment when they're actually doing what they're supposed to and go give them a hug. Bend down to their level and talk to them casually with a smile. Ask them about something light like their favorite T.V. show and just listen to them talk. There's probably more going on or feelings behind their misbehavior. Let them know just from your attention/body language that they're loved and cared for and that you want the best for them. Don't take this time to lecture, just show them love and friendship. When they have a strong rapport with you, they'll want to do better for you. And they might fail sometimes. That's okay, as long as they're trying. Even when it doesn't seem like it, some kids try really hard to "be good" and it's a true struggle for them. I know I got in trouble for talking all the time in elementary school and all I ever wanted was to "be good" but I just could not control myself for some reason. It made such a difference the teachers who embraced me than the ones who just lectured/punished me.<br /><br />Also remember to celebrate the good behavior constantly like I said. There are some kids who always quietly do their work and it's easy to forget them when another kid is trying to lick his neighbor's shoe and the whole class is steadily getting noisier during independent work time. Don't let the hard worker go unnoticed. Saying "Wow, I love how Jason is working so quietly. Thanks Jason!" can go a long way when your class starts to get a little noisy. It redirects the whole class but in a positive way that makes Jason feel appreciated.<br /><br />Randomly go to P.E. with them one day and play whatever the game is with them. Do the stretches with them and be another one of the kids in the class with them. They'll look at you like you're crazy and&nbsp;<b><i>love</i>&nbsp;</b>it. Or go to art and do the art activity with them and talk to them like you're just another friend at the table. &nbsp;Go hang out with them at recess one day or go sit and eat lunch with them on a random Tuesday. Any little thing you can do to build relationships is gold. Yes you need to make copies during your special and have piles of things to do but just take some time here and there to show them that you're a person too and they can have fun and be silly with you.<br /><br />And if all else fails... on those full moon days... <span style="font-size: large;">USE FOOD.&nbsp;</span><br />You can literally get a bag of pretzel sticks or goldfish and just put ONE on their desk if they're working quietly/collaboratively/whatever the expectation is. When they hear the bag crinkle and see you put a goldfish on another kids' desk - HOLY CRICKETS. Food is legit magic. :)<br /><br /><br />Okay I think that's enough rambling!! I tend to do that, hence me getting in trouble in school for talking like I mentioned. :)<br /><br /><br />I hope this has been helpful and you found some tips you can implement in your classroom. Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have in the comments or let me know what strategies YOU use that work! There are a million different strategies for managing a classroom and I'm sure you have great ones to share with us all as well! :) <br /><br />For even more classroom management strategies, check out:<br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/10/25-chatty-class-classroom-management.html" target="_blank">25 Chatty Class Classroom Management Strategies</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;">Don't forget to join&nbsp;</span><a href="http://eepurl.com/1WAO9" style="font-size: large;" target="_blank">Miss Giraffe's Class</a><span style="font-size: medium;">&nbsp;so you never miss out on fun ideas and exclusive&nbsp;</span><b style="font-size: large;">free stuff</b><span style="font-size: medium;">&nbsp;from me only for subscribers!</span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You can also follow me&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/themissgiraffe/" target="_blank">on Pinterest</a>&nbsp;for more teaching ideas! Make sure you check out my boards to repin any ideas you want to save - I love gathering classroom ideas (I'm a little pin obsessed!) and have a ton of boards full of things for <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/math.html" target="_blank">math</a>, <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/search/label/phonics" target="_blank">phonics</a>,&nbsp;everything!&nbsp;</span></span></div></div>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-28000358902676410962016-03-26T02:45:00.001-07:002016-09-18T15:34:46.214-07:00Phonics Fluency NotebooksPhonics fluency notebooks are one of my favorite literacy activities for teaching students to read with fluency and comprehension.<br /><div><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4tvBPe1zeCA/VvZIJVF6cKI/AAAAAAAAC7U/rmrOE1IxlSQC3zoF5H7syTztBX246XC3Q/s1600/Slide13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Short O example of phonics notebooks to build fluency and comprehension" border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4tvBPe1zeCA/VvZIJVF6cKI/AAAAAAAAC7U/rmrOE1IxlSQC3zoF5H7syTztBX246XC3Q/s640/Slide13.JPG" title="Short O example of phonics notebooks to build fluency and comprehension" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div>I love them because they are hands on and interactive and require the students to not only read, but understand, the story to complete them.</div><div><br /></div><div>These actually started out as full color fluency puzzles as a literacy center where students read it and put the events of the story in order. I was really excited by all the positive feedback I got about how much kids liked them and learned from them... but I also kept getting requests to make them in black and white for teachers to save color ink. I kept thinking, "But why would you want them in black and white? It's a literacy center you laminate and keep." but I wanted to make people happy so I made them.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XqabXnX8bJQ/VvYvCLPsN5I/AAAAAAAAC5s/7PYqA5_H9QESBTp0O9qCQviM-mY3ViCdw/s1600/Slide2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reading fluency and comprehension puzzles and so many fun reading activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XqabXnX8bJQ/VvYvCLPsN5I/AAAAAAAAC5s/7PYqA5_H9QESBTp0O9qCQviM-mY3ViCdw/s640/Slide2.JPG" title="Reading fluency and comprehension puzzles and so many fun reading activities" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>As I was switching over all the clip art to black and white versions, it hit me that these would be <b>awesome</b> for our phonics notebooks! I'm so thankful for all the people who requested it because they're one of my favorite things now!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>I usually put cut and paste worksheet activities in the interactive notebooks from the <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/literacy.html" target="_blank">no prep phonics packs</a>&nbsp;which has been great but then I thought these could be made into an actual phonics book that students keep and can refer to all year when they need help with a particular sound... or just a book to read through all their stories. (You can see a lot of the cut and paste activities I'm talking about in my most recent post <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/03/ew-ue-ui-activities.html" target="_blank">EW UE UI Activities</a>&nbsp;if you're interested - the ideas in that post can be used with any phonics sound).</div><div><br /></div><div>So anyway!</div><div><br /></div><div>I printed out the black and white version and they fit perfectly in our notebooks!</div><div><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CUAePn83Ryc/VvZOcrGDFrI/AAAAAAAAC8g/2muGNCHjckAtSLnLS6wxSRC9gH-fJklGg/s1600/Slide11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CUAePn83Ryc/VvZOcrGDFrI/AAAAAAAAC8g/2muGNCHjckAtSLnLS6wxSRC9gH-fJklGg/s640/Slide11.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Each reading fluency passage focuses on ONE phonics sound at a time. For example, this one focuses on the AR sound:</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XHtC__dlKZw/VvZLiQqKpfI/AAAAAAAAC70/QkU1EQJ2MKwhM4xYnl1jg0v2njQbfxE4Q/s1600/Slide14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XHtC__dlKZw/VvZLiQqKpfI/AAAAAAAAC70/QkU1EQJ2MKwhM4xYnl1jg0v2njQbfxE4Q/s640/Slide14.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Students will:</div><div>1) Cut out the puzzle (for students who struggle with cutting, just have them cut across the bottom in a straight line and not worry about the little loops)</div><div>2) Highlight all of the words with the phonics sound it's practicing</div><div>3) Read the story now that it's highlighted to help them</div><div>4) Read the story again piece by piece to put the events in order &amp; glue them down</div><div>5) Write the words they highlighted underneath the completed puzzle</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PVgApVk4N2g/VvZP8tNZJRI/AAAAAAAAC8s/ay1Km71lb7orxWnj9JnnjiUnYpy7gWP8g/s1600/Slide27.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Long U Reading fluency and comprehension puzzles and so many fun activities for all the phonics sounds" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PVgApVk4N2g/VvZP8tNZJRI/AAAAAAAAC8s/ay1Km71lb7orxWnj9JnnjiUnYpy7gWP8g/s640/Slide27.JPG" title="Long U Reading fluency and comprehension puzzles and so many fun activities for all the phonics sounds" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Then, once they glue it in and highlight the words, it makes an awesome reference page for their notebooks!! You could also just have them color and complete the puzzles like above, or glue them onto something else. If you have a different idea for how you could use these, I'd love to hear it in the comments! I love learning and trying new things. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>You can also have them make a table of contents if you want! It's not really necessary in kindergarten or first grade but it is good practice for how to use a table of contents.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iJAdLqrpZuQ/VvY78HB7yKI/AAAAAAAAC7A/ee9oYz60E88XWsG5cCxAIFhq1J0nuSNbw/s1600/Slide8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iJAdLqrpZuQ/VvY78HB7yKI/AAAAAAAAC7A/ee9oYz60E88XWsG5cCxAIFhq1J0nuSNbw/s640/Slide8.JPG" width="480" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>To do this, have them number all of the pages in the bottom corner. Then, have them take one of the first pages in the notebook and write "Table of Contents" at the top. Each time you make a new page, they write that number in the margin then write the sound you're practicing on the line. I don't use a table of contents since there are well over 100 puzzles in <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Fluency-Puzzles-BUNDLE-1956968" target="_blank">the bundle</a> but I thought I'd sketch out an example in case you wanted to do one.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Another great way for them to keep their place is with a bookmark!</div><div><br /></div><div>Simply take a piece of tape and a piece of ribbon and tape the ribbon to the back cover:</div><div><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XJpFLfuytu4/VvY20EwxSRI/AAAAAAAAC6c/6_CLH0iTCLQJjyb9KfzRjyXPMfzooP8mQ/s1600/Slide6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Use a ribbon to bookmark interactive notebooks and other great classroom ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XJpFLfuytu4/VvY20EwxSRI/AAAAAAAAC6c/6_CLH0iTCLQJjyb9KfzRjyXPMfzooP8mQ/s640/Slide6.JPG" title="Use a ribbon to bookmark interactive notebooks and other great classroom ideas" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Then, they can put the ribbon wherever they leave off in their notebook so they find it right away when they come back to it, no flipping through notebook pages.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dd8CaVrK3u0/VvY2su8BrQI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/GruB3ahC3jkyMu8IVlQmTNiv3TVjOm0NQ/s1600/Slide2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Use a ribbon to bookmark phonics interactive notebooks and other great ideas" border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dd8CaVrK3u0/VvY2su8BrQI/AAAAAAAAC6Y/GruB3ahC3jkyMu8IVlQmTNiv3TVjOm0NQ/s640/Slide2.JPG" title="Use a ribbon to bookmark phonics interactive notebooks and other great ideas" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>If they don't finish an activity before time is out, I also recommend making a pocket to store their pieces in the front. You'll need the first 2 pages in the notebook. Cut half off of the second page then staple or tape the side and bottoms together to create a pocket. You could also give them little envelopes to adhere to the inside of the front cover if you want to get fancy. :)</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xjyrgCKmhhQ/VvY8GScXO3I/AAAAAAAAC7E/vuaU1qFO_54AxWeNs-akqhReiVaYtD9qw/s1600/Slide7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Create a pocket to store notebooking materials when using interactive notebooks (and more ideas at the link!)" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xjyrgCKmhhQ/VvY8GScXO3I/AAAAAAAAC7E/vuaU1qFO_54AxWeNs-akqhReiVaYtD9qw/s640/Slide7.JPG" title="Create a pocket to store notebooking materials when using interactive notebooks (and more ideas at the link!)" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div><br /><br /></div><div>I have these in a big bundle with all of the phonics sounds if you want a full year set:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Fluency-Puzzles-BUNDLE-1956968" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Phonics Fluency Puzzles Bundle</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ej8xmvnYZyQ/VfXxAPtzzzI/AAAAAAAABm8/naQInB-MkoA2F2XnzDRK_ZWKMe4No6LOQ/s1600/0%2BCOVER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ej8xmvnYZyQ/VfXxAPtzzzI/AAAAAAAABm8/naQInB-MkoA2F2XnzDRK_ZWKMe4No6LOQ/s400/0%2BCOVER.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">(All the puzzles come in full color as well as black and white)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>or I have individual sets of sounds like....</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Short-Vowels-Fluency-Puzzles-1850038" target="_blank">Short Vowels</a></span><br />Includes: short a (3), short e (3), short i (2), short (2), short u (2)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t4jtDaVM1YA/VvZJyvXHCLI/AAAAAAAAC7g/pZQUB50ojPMVvKW5H8i9yls3vb3BYvTTA/s1600/Slide12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t4jtDaVM1YA/VvZJyvXHCLI/AAAAAAAAC7g/pZQUB50ojPMVvKW5H8i9yls3vb3BYvTTA/s640/Slide12.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/CVCe-Fluency-and-Sequencing-Puzzles-1845396" target="_blank">CVCe Long Vowels</a></span><br />Includes: a_e (2), i_e (2), o_e (2), u_e (2)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Gv_r1mkXZo/VvZMcxobMHI/AAAAAAAAC8E/SYB88N5Ys_8fqA9c0V_V0bN9jW2D1hHKg/s1600/Slide11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8Gv_r1mkXZo/VvZMcxobMHI/AAAAAAAAC8E/SYB88N5Ys_8fqA9c0V_V0bN9jW2D1hHKg/s640/Slide11.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/2-Letter-Blends-Fluency-Puzzles-1856536" target="_blank">2 Letter Blends</a></span><br />Includes: br, cr, dr, fr, gr, tr, pr, wr, bl, cl, fl, gl, pl, sl, sp, st, sn, sc, sm, sk, sw, tw<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ed-eGuIMVE4/VvZMQrUqNEI/AAAAAAAAC78/C8gdFP-80HI4Bbx68Hr306X4vVw47tpBA/s1600/Slide5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ed-eGuIMVE4/VvZMQrUqNEI/AAAAAAAAC78/C8gdFP-80HI4Bbx68Hr306X4vVw47tpBA/s640/Slide5.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/3-Letter-Blends-Trigraphs-Fluency-Puzzles-1856537" target="_blank">3 Letter Blends</a></span><br />Includes: thr, shr, str, spl, squ, spr, scr<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zze3oG13uT8/VvZMQq3VT4I/AAAAAAAAC8A/tGwFnlWC7cUwP7OY49z3AhuoQ6e9rg0Zw/s1600/Slide3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zze3oG13uT8/VvZMQq3VT4I/AAAAAAAAC8A/tGwFnlWC7cUwP7OY49z3AhuoQ6e9rg0Zw/s640/Slide3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ending-Blends-Fluency-Puzzles-1955825" target="_blank">Ending Blends</a></span><br />Includes: mp, ing, ang, ong, ung, nt, nk, nd, st, sk, lk, lt, ld, lf, lp, mb, ct, pt, ft<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Bossy-R-Fluency-and-Sequencing-Puzzles-1846639" target="_blank">Bossy R Sounds</a></span><br />Includes: ar (2), or (2), er (2), ir (2), ur (2)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EMtrp_pLYy4/VvZNAfif9RI/AAAAAAAAC8Q/Mm91YegzwDowmaICY5SwiAN_Tn047J68A/s1600/Slide6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EMtrp_pLYy4/VvZNAfif9RI/AAAAAAAAC8Q/Mm91YegzwDowmaICY5SwiAN_Tn047J68A/s640/Slide6.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/-CK-Fluency-and-Sequencing-Puzzles-2163220" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">-CK</span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Includes: -ack, -ick, -ock, -uck, -ack/-eck, -ck mix (2)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_p0xKt98T3g/VvZMc_wi1gI/AAAAAAAAC8U/JxDwwOCZIIkVFa9O2cEbvjjEzwtUeWygg/s1600/Slide8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_p0xKt98T3g/VvZMc_wi1gI/AAAAAAAAC8U/JxDwwOCZIIkVFa9O2cEbvjjEzwtUeWygg/s640/Slide8.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digraphs-1876986" target="_blank">Digraphs</a></span><br />Includes: ch (2), sh (2), th (2), wh (2), qu (2), ph (2)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U8VxPZM4SwE/Vvbe_fJ6WzI/AAAAAAAAC9s/o56pfikOLMklSwYR-fXH5WYc6NSb8DN9g/s1600/Slide14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U8VxPZM4SwE/Vvbe_fJ6WzI/AAAAAAAAC9s/o56pfikOLMklSwYR-fXH5WYc6NSb8DN9g/s640/Slide14.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Vowel-Teams-2178291" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Vowel Teams</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Includes: ai, ay, ee, ea (pea), ea (head), oi, oy, oa, ow (tow), au, aw, oo (book), oo (zoo), ou (2), ow (cow) (2), ie, ui, ew</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P3DSYmzz7_k/VvY4ZqO-SOI/AAAAAAAAC60/aHEtCi9W0dUFDGt0T_tNPq6SuRa3gAP6w/s1600/OO%2Bnotebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P3DSYmzz7_k/VvY4ZqO-SOI/AAAAAAAAC60/aHEtCi9W0dUFDGt0T_tNPq6SuRa3gAP6w/s640/OO%2Bnotebook.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>I love making these! Like I showed you above, there's a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Fluency-Puzzles-BUNDLE-1956968" target="_blank">BIG BUNDLE</a> of them if you're crazy like me and want them all :)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>One more phonics fluency notebooks tip for you....</div><div><br /></div><div>Kids LOVE to cut and paste, right? I talk about this a lot in <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/math.html" target="_blank">my posts about my math units</a>... but a lot of teachers avoid them because it can get messy and loud. But it doesn't have to be at all!</div><div><br /></div><div>The best way to manage your class during cut and paste activities is to require them to stay in their seat. Some kids will cut and make a big mess then be under the table grabbing all the pieces that fell, right?? And then there's the kid who has to go throw away every scrap <i>piece by piece</i>&nbsp;into the class trash can. Well that can all be saved by a trash bowl on their table!</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5IKv-N13hWc/VvY3fjM7osI/AAAAAAAAC6k/lXCKApTxeogjW1217rCT_4m07bG7TKziQ/s1600/Slide5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Trash bowl for each table to collect scraps when cutting and pasting and a ton of other interactive notebook tips" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5IKv-N13hWc/VvY3fjM7osI/AAAAAAAAC6k/lXCKApTxeogjW1217rCT_4m07bG7TKziQ/s640/Slide5.JPG" title="Trash bowl for each table to collect scraps when cutting and pasting and a ton of other interactive notebook tips" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div>Any time you're doing an activity that involves cutting, have a trash bucket on their table so they can put the scraps in it as they go. No reason for there to ever be scraps on their desk or the floor... and no reason to get up. It will save your sanity! These puzzles don't have a lot of extra scraps but I wanted to share this tip anyway because it's SO helpful for arts and crafts activities with a million pieces. ESPECIALLY because there's always the kid that is devastated when they accidentally throw away one of the pieces (I lost my monster's eye!) to their project, right? And all they want to do is dig through the super icky class trash full of snotty tissues to find it - um, nope! They can look through this clean paper-only bucket quickly if a piece goes missing.<br /><br /></div><div><br />One thing that is really important to me in my phonics resources is that <i>all</i> of the words in the passages are decodable. I try to only use words with the focus sound, easily decodable words, and <b>only</b> the <i>simplest</i> of sight words (like, to, etc.). I want the focus to be on practicing that phonics sound and reading fluently. If there are sight words they haven't learned yet or hard-to-decode words, they'll get hung up on those and I want ALL energy and focus to be on reading words/sentences with the focus sound. It takes me a lot longer to create passages but I make an effort to always do that as much as I can in everything - <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phonics-No-Prep-Massive-MEGA-Bundle-1701361" target="_blank">my phonics packs</a>, reading passages, everything.<br /><br />If you need more reading passages, I have A LOT of them. Here are some of my sets:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Kindergarten-Reading-Fluency-and-Comprehension-Passages-1194912" target="_blank">Short Vowel Word Families</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tGgzdNg9tbc/VvZWvkPkwFI/AAAAAAAAC9c/c5wGsEqqwJUYmgIEGBMRhr-Ut6BnMgEiA/s1600/Short%2BVowels%2BReading%2BFluency%2BPassages.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Short vowels word families reading fluency passages and other great ideas to build reading fluency and comprehension" border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tGgzdNg9tbc/VvZWvkPkwFI/AAAAAAAAC9c/c5wGsEqqwJUYmgIEGBMRhr-Ut6BnMgEiA/s400/Short%2BVowels%2BReading%2BFluency%2BPassages.png" title="Short vowels word families reading fluency passages and other great ideas to build reading fluency and comprehension" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Kindergarten-Reading-Fluency-and-Comprehension-Passages-Part-2-1296586" target="_blank">Long Vowel Word Families</a></span></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kWMhV-cfSRg/VvZUVz4a2GI/AAAAAAAAC9I/eEAM2oFTCEgnjPrKyZzRuP2aNbJGagYsA/s1600/Slide33.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Long vowels word families reading fluency passages and other great ideas to build reading fluency and comprehension" border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kWMhV-cfSRg/VvZUVz4a2GI/AAAAAAAAC9I/eEAM2oFTCEgnjPrKyZzRuP2aNbJGagYsA/s400/Slide33.JPG" title="Long vowels word families reading fluency passages and other great ideas to build reading fluency and comprehension" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HbIVS30NElc/VvZUV-P5brI/AAAAAAAAC9M/z4EcYQ-AwKgP_TWmSs-VYyFnq4QEZx7YQ/s1600/Slide34.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Long vowels word families reading fluency passages and other great ideas to build reading fluency and comprehension" border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HbIVS30NElc/VvZUV-P5brI/AAAAAAAAC9M/z4EcYQ-AwKgP_TWmSs-VYyFnq4QEZx7YQ/s400/Slide34.JPG" title="Long vowels word families reading fluency passages and other great ideas to build reading fluency and comprehension" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Blends-1939346" target="_blank">Beginning Blends</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vpikUtB3WjU/VvZUSugon5I/AAAAAAAAC84/2SNmRl3kSOEDvp_3OVgXZTCHk45654wjQ/s1600/Slide28.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Beginning blends reading fluency passages and other great ideas to build reading fluency and comprehension" border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vpikUtB3WjU/VvZUSugon5I/AAAAAAAAC84/2SNmRl3kSOEDvp_3OVgXZTCHk45654wjQ/s400/Slide28.JPG" title="Beginning blends reading fluency passages and other great ideas to build reading fluency and comprehension" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Ending-Blends-1960942" target="_blank">Ending Blends</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8qQPYtZFTqI/VvZUS7MQVbI/AAAAAAAAC88/zG_RRAYa4Wc-8_jZkwdWNZhD9Tq5rV_CA/s1600/Slide31.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ending blends (this one is MP) reading fluency passages and other great ideas to build reading fluency and comprehension" border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8qQPYtZFTqI/VvZUS7MQVbI/AAAAAAAAC88/zG_RRAYa4Wc-8_jZkwdWNZhD9Tq5rV_CA/s400/Slide31.JPG" title="Ending blends (this one is MP) reading fluency passages and other great ideas to build reading fluency and comprehension" width="300" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Iiu4R6_iSOU/VvZUVCpOK7I/AAAAAAAAC9E/Kp5u0BAujzwbw2Qqm0SqoDw0O8UVj7irQ/s1600/Slide32.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Ending blends (this one is NG) reading fluency passages and other great ideas to build reading fluency and comprehension" border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Iiu4R6_iSOU/VvZUVCpOK7I/AAAAAAAAC9E/Kp5u0BAujzwbw2Qqm0SqoDw0O8UVj7irQ/s400/Slide32.JPG" title="Ending blends (this one is NG) reading fluency passages and other great ideas to build reading fluency and comprehension" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Digraphs-Reading-Fluency-Passages-2439464" target="_blank">Digraphs</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kcn5uVE3Unw/VvZUSzFAq3I/AAAAAAAAC9A/vUwwz0XtiD08IGziGwAvCJNa01hu4Xn6A/s1600/Slide30.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Digraphs reading fluency passages and other great ideas to build reading fluency and comprehension" border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kcn5uVE3Unw/VvZUSzFAq3I/AAAAAAAAC9A/vUwwz0XtiD08IGziGwAvCJNa01hu4Xn6A/s400/Slide30.JPG" title="Digraphs reading fluency passages and other great ideas to build reading fluency and comprehension" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>and that's just some of them! I love writing thanks to my absolutely wonderful 3rd grade teacher. :)<br /><br />I hope this has been helpful!!!<br /><br />If you want a TON of tips on teaching reading fluency, check out my post:<br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/11/tips-for-building-reading-fluency.html" target="_blank">Tips for Building Reading Fluency</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: medium;">You can also follow me&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/themissgiraffe/" target="_blank">on Pinterest</a>&nbsp;for more teaching ideas!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;">Also - don't forget to join&nbsp;<a href="http://eepurl.com/1WAO9" target="_blank">Miss Giraffe's Class</a>&nbsp;so you never miss out on fun ideas and exclusive&nbsp;<b>free stuff</b>&nbsp;from me only for subscribers!</span></div>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-41396490404844551442016-03-13T21:33:00.001-07:002017-02-15T13:28:47.235-07:00EW UE UI ActivitiesEW UE UI is a difficult phonics sound to teach so I wanted to show you guys some fun activities you can use for this set of long U vowel pairs to make your lessons and literacy centers more fun!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ARDBL5a6D7k/VuYgkkGgjXI/AAAAAAAAC0c/PFiokSRA6GsWIl10WVqExFPfjsm2VxU0A/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenter%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="EW UE UI ideas galore! I love these pocket chart centers with picture words to sort under the phonics sounds - so much fun for literacy centers!" border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ARDBL5a6D7k/VuYgkkGgjXI/AAAAAAAAC0c/PFiokSRA6GsWIl10WVqExFPfjsm2VxU0A/s640/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenter%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="EW UE UI ideas galore! I love these pocket chart centers with picture words to sort under the phonics sounds - so much fun for literacy centers!" width="640" /></a></div><br />All of the activities and ideas I'm about to show you can be used for any phonics sound so if you don't teach EW UE UI, you can still get some fun phonics ideas out of this hopefully!<br /><br />As far as the activities go, I have the same resources for almost all of the sounds so if you're thinking, "Oooh I want that but I need it for EE EA or OA OW" or whatever sound you're teaching next week - never fear, I probably have it already made for you... I'm obsessed with making phonics activities so I've probably already done the work :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tlBE-euCQho/VuYhQEqaiKI/AAAAAAAAC0k/fmFhq3ZDSx8eE2G6j2Wv3khSy7sgxva4A/s1600/Trash%2BBin%2BSorting%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sort sounds into mini trash cans from the dollar store for super fun word sorts activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tlBE-euCQho/VuYhQEqaiKI/AAAAAAAAC0k/fmFhq3ZDSx8eE2G6j2Wv3khSy7sgxva4A/s640/Trash%2BBin%2BSorting%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Sort sounds into mini trash cans from the dollar store for super fun word sorts activities" width="640" /></a></div><br />My favorite phonics activities are usually sorts that involve pictures! It really gives the words students are trying to read a "real life" connection.<br /><br />I LOVE these little trash bins from the dollar store for sorts. You can use them to sort anything!<br />Kids love putting things in the trash can. Simply label the front (I shrunk down my chevron <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Alphabet-Posters-1392816" target="_blank">Alphabet &amp; Phonics Sound Classroom Posters</a>) and have them put it through the slot!<br />They're plastic so you can even just write on the front of them with a dry erase marker if you want.<br /><br />The word/picture cards are my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/EW-UE-UI-Pocket-Chart-Centers-and-Materials-2352309" target="_blank">EW UE UI pocket chart cards</a> and I use them for a ton of different things! I have them for all the phonics sounds in a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phonics-Pocket-Chart-Centers-BUNDLE-2357636" target="_blank">bundle</a> as well.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UmJVB9ZW9Qk/VuYmxZuXaJI/AAAAAAAAC00/u105g1NjQukYs9zJL_bSFgnufwAcSTAYQ/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenter%2B%25285%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ew ui ue activities for first grade that make phonics learning a lot of fun... check out all her phonics ideas on this blog!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UmJVB9ZW9Qk/VuYmxZuXaJI/AAAAAAAAC00/u105g1NjQukYs9zJL_bSFgnufwAcSTAYQ/s640/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenter%2B%25285%2529.JPG" title="ew ui ue activities for first grade that make phonics learning a lot of fun... check out all her phonics ideas on this blog!" width="640" /></a></div><br />Sorting EW UE UI words is hard since there's not really a rule for when you use each sound (or if there is, please tell me!) so it's nice to have the words on the cards to help.<br /><br />Spelling out the words is also great for practice since repetition with these sounds will really help students learn how to spell them.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C5QdoZZSUT8/VuYndVRoeRI/AAAAAAAAC08/7Ij19Vvdc44VOMtChsEAdEC_2xZN0HiLg/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenter%2B%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Love these ew sound for long u literacy stations and phonics activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C5QdoZZSUT8/VuYndVRoeRI/AAAAAAAAC08/7Ij19Vvdc44VOMtChsEAdEC_2xZN0HiLg/s640/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenter%2B%25287%2529.JPG" title="Love these ew sound for long u literacy stations and phonics activities" width="480" /></a></div><br />I recommend doing the sounds individually so they get a lot of practice with each individual phonics sound so, for spelling out the words, have them do EW words only, UE words only, UI words only as separate activities.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wVlaEGxU3es/VuYn6K-aR7I/AAAAAAAAC1A/95yqJx-dll4O10KODj3zAj1OswnF_VQcQ/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenter%2B%25289%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ue sound for long u first grade activities and ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wVlaEGxU3es/VuYn6K-aR7I/AAAAAAAAC1A/95yqJx-dll4O10KODj3zAj1OswnF_VQcQ/s640/Pocket%2BChart%2BCenter%2B%25289%2529.JPG" title="ue sound for long u first grade activities and ideas" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />You can also have students take a card or two at a time to write sentences with.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uy3fx191T6E/VuYq81lcntI/AAAAAAAAC1s/7bn0moxitNgoCo0gG0Rt9mMIYDF-OS1tg/s1600/Whiteboard%2BSentences%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Use picture word cards and a mini white board for an instant sentence writing center! So many great ideas!" border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Uy3fx191T6E/VuYq81lcntI/AAAAAAAAC1s/7bn0moxitNgoCo0gG0Rt9mMIYDF-OS1tg/s640/Whiteboard%2BSentences%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Use picture word cards and a mini white board for an instant sentence writing center! So many great ideas!" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />I also like to laminate a set of cards, punch a hole in the corner, and put a binder ring through them to make a set of cards that you can just grab to practice reading the words, use in your writing, whatever! They're great for small groups, the writing center, etc.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YzH2zzQf0-g/VuYowiK7PyI/AAAAAAAAC1M/1hB7CgFm5CUsIw6O-S4m2A9sVcvd3hvsA/s1600/Words%2Bon%2BRing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Laminate and put picture word cards on a binder ring for easy grab and go reading practice. Also great for your writing center or phonics center!" border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YzH2zzQf0-g/VuYowiK7PyI/AAAAAAAAC1M/1hB7CgFm5CUsIw6O-S4m2A9sVcvd3hvsA/s400/Words%2Bon%2BRing.JPG" title="Laminate and put picture word cards on a binder ring for easy grab and go reading practice. Also great for your writing center or phonics center!" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br />Speaking of binder rings, if you don't do this - you need to start ASAP!<br /><br />Print fun worksheets for a given concept double sided, put them in sheet protectors, and put a binder ring through the top hole to make an awesome center for ANYTHING that kids can just grab and go. All kids need is a dry erase marker and they have so many practice activities for any concept.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ulTxAZ5ahdI/VuYpdQNyQmI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/aoOmPPJkV8gsGRNYILypEvtr9QQUh7Htw/s1600/Sheet%2BProtector%2BWS%2B%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Put phonics worksheets in sheet protectors to reuse with dry erase markers" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ulTxAZ5ahdI/VuYpdQNyQmI/AAAAAAAAC1Y/aoOmPPJkV8gsGRNYILypEvtr9QQUh7Htw/s640/Sheet%2BProtector%2BWS%2B%25284%2529.JPG" title="Put phonics worksheets in sheet protectors to reuse with dry erase markers" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div>They make an awesome activity fast finishers can just grab and take back to their seats. It's also great to give a student who may be struggling with a certain skill to practice. The beauty is it all just wipes away to be reused over and over again!! Plus, for some reason, a dry erase marker makes a worksheet seem 10x more fun so students are motivated to do a whole packet in one sitting and will even pick these during free choice!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8jEmMqIt1po/VuYqJh-PzKI/AAAAAAAAC1g/9O8wilDXEpMVSaqV0VzGapyicmUoQrxlg/s1600/Sheet%2BProtector%2BWS%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Put phonics worksheets in sheet protectors in a ring to make a reusable phonics practice workbook" border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8jEmMqIt1po/VuYqJh-PzKI/AAAAAAAAC1g/9O8wilDXEpMVSaqV0VzGapyicmUoQrxlg/s640/Sheet%2BProtector%2BWS%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="Put phonics worksheets in sheet protectors in a ring to make a reusable phonics practice workbook" width="640" /></a></div><br />Like I said, they just grab a dry erase marker and flip to the page they want to do. I just printed my entire <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/EW-UE-UI-Worksheets-Activities-NO-PREP-2441083" target="_blank">EW UE UI no prep pack</a> of these worksheets double sided, threw them in sheet protectors, and it's an instant review center. You can even put many of the cut and paste activities in there - they can just write in the answers and cross out the word they would've pasted to show they've used it.<br /><br />Seriously, try this. You can do it with math concepts (make an addition ring, a fractions ring, etc.) too!<br /><br />I have a ton of no prep worksheets for <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/EW-UE-UI-Worksheets-Activities-NO-PREP-2441083" target="_blank">EW UE UI</a>&nbsp;that are like the phonics worksheets and activities I have for other sounds (check all the packs out&nbsp;<a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/literacy.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>) so that activities are consistent... all kiddos have to focus on is the new sound being learned, not <i>how</i>&nbsp;to do the activity. There is so much more instructional time (and sanity!) available when you don't have to give directions!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ud4fIGUG8t4/VuYsPzrL7mI/AAAAAAAAC14/VXRbdrvcbVEvr5q68DnCa32Hbou-JguSA/s1600/NP%2B-%2BLove%2Bto%2BRead%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Match the pictures to the correct sentence - so much great reading practice in these pages! Click to see pictures of them in action!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ud4fIGUG8t4/VuYsPzrL7mI/AAAAAAAAC14/VXRbdrvcbVEvr5q68DnCa32Hbou-JguSA/s640/NP%2B-%2BLove%2Bto%2BRead%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Match the pictures to the correct sentence - so much great reading practice in these pages! Click to see pictures of them in action!" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div>I try to make phonics as fun as possible because students loving reading is just as important to me as students being able to read. Kids love to cut and paste so I try to provide a ton of those. I'm also all about differentiating so for students who need extra help, instead of the sentences like above, you could practice just matching words with pictures like this example:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eYL_t4E2dho/VuYtn69Ko8I/AAAAAAAAC3E/Rj0UffqPxrIN8gcycVTgLxJw5ASXOAt_A/s1600/NP%2B-%2BFinish%2BWord%2BEasier%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Phonics activities for first grade that are seriously so much fun... I love all of these so much" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-eYL_t4E2dho/VuYtn69Ko8I/AAAAAAAAC3E/Rj0UffqPxrIN8gcycVTgLxJw5ASXOAt_A/s640/NP%2B-%2BFinish%2BWord%2BEasier%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="Phonics activities for first grade that are seriously so much fun... I love all of these so much" width="480" /></a></div><br />Have them do one for each sound (above is UI... also do UE and EW) then give them a mixed version to practice all 3 sounds when you think they're ready:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6_QGywRMsbo/VuYtnz3mBEI/AAAAAAAAC4E/j4ezG9r6R0sRocCzJtIzG5Gb2Bqx5Bz0g/s1600/NP%2B-%2BFinish%2BWord%2BHarder.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ew ue ui worksheets and no prep activities for a lot of phonics practice" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6_QGywRMsbo/VuYtnz3mBEI/AAAAAAAAC4E/j4ezG9r6R0sRocCzJtIzG5Gb2Bqx5Bz0g/s640/NP%2B-%2BFinish%2BWord%2BHarder.JPG" title="ew ue ui worksheets and no prep activities for a lot of phonics practice" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>Some students may need a lot of practice matching pictures to words before they are comfortable reading the words in sentences.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J_oqVthkUIc/VuYtth-k-WI/AAAAAAAAC4E/9JaL8eU6AuwKjb7PG4br_D_dzSCcDA5uA/s1600/NP%2B-%2BWord%2BPic%2BMatch%2BCP.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ue ui ew worksheets activities and phonics games to practice reading in fun hands on ways" border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-J_oqVthkUIc/VuYtth-k-WI/AAAAAAAAC4E/9JaL8eU6AuwKjb7PG4br_D_dzSCcDA5uA/s640/NP%2B-%2BWord%2BPic%2BMatch%2BCP.JPG" title="ue ui ew worksheets activities and phonics games to practice reading in fun hands on ways" width="640" /></a></div><br />For students who really struggle, you can give them prewritten sentences to trace and write that have a picture cue to help them.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tJr4wz4JYFQ/VuYthhRyhKI/AAAAAAAAC4M/0jrYqZPTxGgeVHb3b2sYQ7pGtGNSpUDAQ/s1600/NP%2B-%2BColor%2BTrace%2BWrite%2BRead%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Save this!! Differentiated reading practice for phonics to support all learners with these fun activities" border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tJr4wz4JYFQ/VuYthhRyhKI/AAAAAAAAC4M/0jrYqZPTxGgeVHb3b2sYQ7pGtGNSpUDAQ/s640/NP%2B-%2BColor%2BTrace%2BWrite%2BRead%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Save this!! Differentiated reading practice for phonics to support all learners with these fun activities" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div>I like these because it gives struggling students the confidence to be writing sentences (and using the focus sound in those sentences), especially if they struggle to come up with their own.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>If you think they're ready to come up with their own, this is a nice next step:</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PpMDlZSltqE/VuYtw90QNQI/AAAAAAAAC4E/cXnl_DH7gPA7UPd1lkeXskSn1kefPJKsw/s1600/NP%2B-%2BWriting%2B3%2Bbox.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Love these pages for scaffolded writing practice where students pick a word with the focus phonics skill and write a sentence and illustrate their writing - great to support ELLs and struggling readers" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PpMDlZSltqE/VuYtw90QNQI/AAAAAAAAC4E/cXnl_DH7gPA7UPd1lkeXskSn1kefPJKsw/s640/NP%2B-%2BWriting%2B3%2Bbox.JPG" title="Love these pages for scaffolded writing practice where students pick a word with the focus phonics skill and write a sentence and illustrate their writing - great to support ELLs and struggling readers" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>The student can use the pictures on the side to help them think of sentences as well as have the spelling for that picture with it so they can use it correctly. These are so helpful for reluctant writers who have a hard time coming up with sentences on their own AND the students who are perfectionists and don't want to spell words wrong.<br /><br />They also aren't overwhelming since there are 3 separate sentences where they choose a word and illustrate what they wrote.<br /><br />You can also have them write their own story using words with the phonics focus for that week with the 1 box writing sheets like this one:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I3joLL5qfI8/VuYtwOrWTMI/AAAAAAAAC4E/vBY1QLt3jPwEHEE3RkLQupVrwiG0PZaNw/s1600/NP%2B-%2BWriting%2B1%2Bbox.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Love how these pages have the words on the side with the phonics sound being focused on so kids can easily incorporate them into their writing... also a great support for ELL students and struggling readers" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I3joLL5qfI8/VuYtwOrWTMI/AAAAAAAAC4E/vBY1QLt3jPwEHEE3RkLQupVrwiG0PZaNw/s640/NP%2B-%2BWriting%2B1%2Bbox.JPG" title="Love how these pages have the words on the side with the phonics sound being focused on so kids can easily incorporate them into their writing... also a great support for ELL students and struggling readers" width="480" /></a></div><br />These work for ALL levels. You can challenge your higher students by having them underline the words they used with the focus sound and challenge them to use as many as they can. These writing sheets are included in the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/EW-UE-UI-Worksheets-Activities-NO-PREP-2441083" target="_blank">EW UE UI pack</a> but I also have a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writing-Paper-2110726" target="_blank">year set</a> of these for all the phonics sounds if you don't get the individual packs they're in.<br /><br />Speaking of challenging your high kids, I love to provide a ton of phonics practice differentiated for the higher kiddos as well where they are practicing the same skill but in a more puzzle-y sort of way to keep their engagement.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wWdR1FW0sSw/VuYtfZGPIGI/AAAAAAAAC4A/53VHqMkpQPIAjri6M2IBopOhMdJUlGP2A/s1600/NP%2B-%2BAmazeing%2BSentences.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A-maze-ing sentences are the best for challenging your high students or fast finishers... kids read through the maze with words with the phonics sound being practiced to figure out the secret sentence" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wWdR1FW0sSw/VuYtfZGPIGI/AAAAAAAAC4A/53VHqMkpQPIAjri6M2IBopOhMdJUlGP2A/s640/NP%2B-%2BAmazeing%2BSentences.JPG" title="A-maze-ing sentences are the best for challenging your high students or fast finishers... kids read through the maze with words with the phonics sound being practiced to figure out the secret sentence" width="480" /></a></div><br />A-maze-ing Sentences are a favorite because they have a ton of reading practice packed in a puzzle. In the above example, they have to read a bunch of UE words to color their way through the puzzle.<br /><br />Another favorite are phonics crossword puzzles. You may think your first graders or whatever grade you teach are too little for crosswords or wouldn't be interested - no way! Kids LOVE crosswords and are super capable!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kVZRaNIUuT4/VuYtkvajz3I/AAAAAAAAC4E/uiiJO_XePjMhBawKl1Ic57kv3M5I9K9Lw/s1600/NP%2B-%2BCrossword.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Phonics worksheets and activities that are hands on engaging and differentiated for all reading levels" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kVZRaNIUuT4/VuYtkvajz3I/AAAAAAAAC4E/uiiJO_XePjMhBawKl1Ic57kv3M5I9K9Lw/s640/NP%2B-%2BCrossword.JPG" title="Phonics worksheets and activities that are hands on engaging and differentiated for all reading levels" width="480" /></a></div><br />They just look at the picture and write the word that it is. It's really only just as hard as a Write the Word worksheet (see right below this) but it is represented in a fun, puzzle-y way so it really keeps students enjoying the work they're doing with words.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o4sUmQWv3Ms/VuYtuJx1kiI/AAAAAAAAC4E/_ObrZS9neTYiRP5AhHrtzn52mK-58F_aw/s1600/NP%2B-%2BWrite%2Bthe%2BWord.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Check out all these awesome phonics worksheets that are perfect for literacy centers classwork and even homework" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-o4sUmQWv3Ms/VuYtuJx1kiI/AAAAAAAAC4E/_ObrZS9neTYiRP5AhHrtzn52mK-58F_aw/s640/NP%2B-%2BWrite%2Bthe%2BWord.JPG" title="Check out all these awesome phonics worksheets that are perfect for literacy centers classwork and even homework" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>Another puzzle-like activity is Secret Word!<br />For this activity, students cut out all the letter pieces to use. Then, they look at each picture and spell the word it is next to it and write it. BUT THEN... dun dun dunnnnn... they have letters leftover!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P1dnnVdYwq8/VuYtqZ_RO2I/AAAAAAAAC4E/hECz5vUHe5QVLylevrO_Y_fzdFsr64Ing/s1600/NP%2B-%2BSecret%2BWord%2BWS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Secret Word phonics worksheets are one of my favorite word work activities to practice reading!" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P1dnnVdYwq8/VuYtqZ_RO2I/AAAAAAAAC4E/hECz5vUHe5QVLylevrO_Y_fzdFsr64Ing/s640/NP%2B-%2BSecret%2BWord%2BWS.JPG" title="Secret Word phonics worksheets are one of my favorite word work activities to practice reading!" width="480" /></a></div><br />They have to unscramble these letters once they're all done building the other words to figure out the SECRET WORD! You could hear a pin drop, seriously. Once they figure out the secret word, they glue it down, draw it in the picture box, and write it. It is always a race to figure out the word!<br /><br />If your kids love Secret Word, they'll also love my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Vowel-Teams-2017104" target="_blank">Secret Words: Vowel Teams</a> activities!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0uknvvsr9xE/VuYtynjeoZI/AAAAAAAAC4E/cqweqQlagdQWR5MgqFxSvGZQdkE9bj4TA/s1600/Secret%2BWords%2Bmag.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Secret Word centers are amazing for so much phonics practice... read about how to use these in your classroom!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0uknvvsr9xE/VuYtynjeoZI/AAAAAAAAC4E/cqweqQlagdQWR5MgqFxSvGZQdkE9bj4TA/s640/Secret%2BWords%2Bmag.JPG" title="Secret Word centers are amazing for so much phonics practice... read about how to use these in your classroom!" width="640" /></a></div><br /></div><div>For this activity, students look at each picture and figure out its beginning sound (guitar is G) and put a magnet letter in the box below it. Once they do that for all of the pictures, they've figured out the secret word!<br /><br />(I have these in <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Secret-Words-BUNDLE-2316012" target="_blank">a big bundle</a> for all the different phonics sounds as well as sight words too if you want more of them!)<br /><br />You can also laminate them, which I recommend anyway so you can reuse over and over, and write the letters in the boxes below the pictures with dry erase markers.<br /><br />Another fun way to use them is with bottle caps! I LOVE using bottle caps for centers because a) they're free, b) you don't care much if they get lost, and c) you can make as many as you want. "Miss Giraffe, I don't have a G!" takes 2 seconds to fix with a blank bottle cap and a permanent marker. :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-funH0W-QZ1k/VuYtySwiocI/AAAAAAAAC4E/atXNN9oafQA2rOEZO5N3bc-fRyEhtDheQ/s1600/Secret%2BWords%2BBC%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Recycle bottle caps to use with these secret word centers - I love these phonics activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-funH0W-QZ1k/VuYtySwiocI/AAAAAAAAC4E/atXNN9oafQA2rOEZO5N3bc-fRyEhtDheQ/s640/Secret%2BWords%2BBC%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="Recycle bottle caps to use with these secret word centers - I love these phonics activities" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>I also like to practice the weekly words with sign language! Kids EAT. THIS. UP.<br /><br />Just give them the sign language chart that comes with it to reference and they will be building words like crazy. It's so great for kinetsthetic learners because they will sign each letter with their hands as they do the activity which really helps solidify the skills for them.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EPVcO0xg3RM/VuYtxBljwMI/AAAAAAAAC4E/2SeU7WEuYzsXanaPy8NyKOVByXXuhQpTw/s1600/Secret%2BSign%2BLanguage%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sign language activity cards to practice phonics sounds?? So awesome for challenging your high students in an independent reading center" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EPVcO0xg3RM/VuYtxBljwMI/AAAAAAAAC4E/2SeU7WEuYzsXanaPy8NyKOVByXXuhQpTw/s640/Secret%2BSign%2BLanguage%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Sign language activity cards to practice phonics sounds?? So awesome for challenging your high students in an independent reading center" width="480" /></a></div><br />I have the sign language cards for <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sign-Language-Secret-Vowel-Teams-plus-2316101" target="_blank">vowel teams like ew, ue, ui</a> as well as <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Secret-Sign-Language-BUNDLE-2316106" target="_blank">a big bundle</a> for many different phonics sounds and sight words!<br /><br />I get asked a lot how I store alphabet letters so I wanted to show you guys my system. I bought these tackle boxes at my local hardware store that are awesome for storing letters! You can get boxes similar to this here too: <a href="http://www.teacherslovelists.com/best-teacher-tools/reading-must-haves/" target="_blank">Reading Center Must Haves</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VanIu9SgO3k/VuclLFdwimI/AAAAAAAAC4Y/yQlSMEpJh5E_L5OlDDrvAcexkNZlyzoXw/s1600/ABC%2BLetter%2BStorage%2BL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Use a craft storage box to store alphabet letters! So many great tips here!" border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VanIu9SgO3k/VuclLFdwimI/AAAAAAAAC4Y/yQlSMEpJh5E_L5OlDDrvAcexkNZlyzoXw/s640/ABC%2BLetter%2BStorage%2BL.jpg" title="Use a craft storage box to store alphabet letters! So many great tips here!" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I bought a couple and each one gets a set of alphabet magnet letters and a handful of bottle cap letters. I wish I could find some with 26 boxes but 18 works out pretty well. I just double up less popular letters. I keep meaning to put little dot stickers from the dollar store on the wall in front of each hole to label them with what letters go in it (makes cleanup faster) but I haven't yet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yoLMZiAZO_M/VuclMNBr7aI/AAAAAAAAC4c/sdhswY7W5bgrl3plzjCYU2VySI8l7M18g/s1600/ABC%2BLetter%2BStorage%2BV.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Use a craft storage box to store alphabet letters! So many great tips here!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yoLMZiAZO_M/VuclMNBr7aI/AAAAAAAAC4c/sdhswY7W5bgrl3plzjCYU2VySI8l7M18g/s640/ABC%2BLetter%2BStorage%2BV.jpg" title="Use a craft storage box to store alphabet letters! So many great tips here!" width="480" /></a></div><br />They're really easy for these secret word literacy stations for kids to just grab a box and work. Also, it's more efficient than them digging through a baggie or bucket of letters - this way is much faster for them to build words. You can even throw the cards with the phonics skills and <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sight-Words-1342385" target="_blank">sight words</a> you're learning that week in the box with the letters so it's an all-in-one center box.<br /><br />Another hands on activity for your kinesthetic learners that is a little easier are clip cards! Clip cards are also good for building fine motor skills as well. Kids just read the word in the middle and clip the picture that represents it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JL19xlzr4Ao/VuYtYLVRHgI/AAAAAAAAC4A/70AuYglEonsYNJO7CU4q-ZccQMAYG1AWw/s1600/Clip%2BCards%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Long u clip cards for ew ui ue sounds to read the word in the middle and clip the picture that represents it for easy and fun practice" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JL19xlzr4Ao/VuYtYLVRHgI/AAAAAAAAC4A/70AuYglEonsYNJO7CU4q-ZccQMAYG1AWw/s640/Clip%2BCards%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Long u clip cards for ew ui ue sounds to read the word in the middle and clip the picture that represents it for easy and fun practice" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div></div><div>These are from my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Vowel-Teams-Clip-Cards-Bundle-2434357" target="_blank">Vowel Teams Clip Cards bundle</a> which are also in an even <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phonics-Clip-Cards-MEGA-GROWING-BUNDLE-2065537" target="_blank">bigger bundle</a> with a lot of different phonics sounds.<br /><br />Alright so now that your kids have a lot of practice with the actual words, let's move on to sorting those words like we started the post with.<br /><br />This cutting and pasting activity from my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/EW-UE-UI-Worksheets-Activities-NO-PREP-2441083" target="_blank">EW UE UI pack</a> is a good transition since it uses pictures and words to sort the words like the pocket chart center did for them.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IhhJe_J9UP4/VuYtrDg8uvI/AAAAAAAAC4E/cu8rOoyJa8Q8K795YTVEfOVi7kmGozcqQ/s1600/NP%2B-%2BSounds%2B3%2Bbox%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Long u worksheets for ew ue ui that are hands on cut and paste activities kids love" border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IhhJe_J9UP4/VuYtrDg8uvI/AAAAAAAAC4E/cu8rOoyJa8Q8K795YTVEfOVi7kmGozcqQ/s640/NP%2B-%2BSounds%2B3%2Bbox%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Long u worksheets for ew ue ui that are hands on cut and paste activities kids love" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />For students who don't need the picture help, you can have them simply sort words like this...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lmwp9QG41tI/VuYttuoq-jI/AAAAAAAAC4E/Y2WiAysFBIkHQwwh2GL8I5ZGCR3VBZ2hA/s1600/NP%2B-%2BWord%2BSort%2BCP%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Long u word sort for ue ui ew sounds" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lmwp9QG41tI/VuYttuoq-jI/AAAAAAAAC4E/Y2WiAysFBIkHQwwh2GL8I5ZGCR3VBZ2hA/s640/NP%2B-%2BWord%2BSort%2BCP%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Long u word sort for ue ui ew sounds" width="480" /></a></div><br />Once they can sort the words by sound, have them do it IN SENTENCES.<br />Say what?!<br />Yes, in sentences!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zjJ1VRX8RjM/VuYtglDAyvI/AAAAAAAAC4A/SWm27-hlOfAp4LcZMaGnrQ0NaxS1Jj7vw/s1600/NP%2B-%2BCircle%2Band%2BSort.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Circle and sort is a favorite phonics activity where you read the sentence to sort the words by phonics sound.. great reading practice for targeting specific phonics skills" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zjJ1VRX8RjM/VuYtglDAyvI/AAAAAAAAC4A/SWm27-hlOfAp4LcZMaGnrQ0NaxS1Jj7vw/s640/NP%2B-%2BCircle%2Band%2BSort.JPG" title="Circle and sort is a favorite phonics activity where you read the sentence to sort the words by phonics sound.. great reading practice for targeting specific phonics skills" width="480" /></a></div><br />It is SO important for them to recognize the vowel team within words <i>within sentences</i>&nbsp;so they can remember to use the sound when they see it <i>in sentences</i>. For this activity, give them 2 different colored markers or crayons or colored pencils.. have them read each sentence and look for the focus sounds. Have them circle each one in a different color and write the words below. This is great practice for finding them in sentences and will help them so much in reading the sentence!<br /><br />I think highlighting the sound you're practicing in the word helps SO MUCH when they're trying to read words, especially within sentences. I recommend doing it as much as possible to scaffold their reading!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fm_ziF2kUZ0/VuYtktOO-1I/AAAAAAAAC4E/O81gyck2eUwFKxBHPuKVIapzNEvc8bpIg/s1600/NP%2B-%2BCutting%2BUp%2BWords%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hands on phonics activities and worksheets that make learning reading so much fun" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fm_ziF2kUZ0/VuYtktOO-1I/AAAAAAAAC4E/O81gyck2eUwFKxBHPuKVIapzNEvc8bpIg/s640/NP%2B-%2BCutting%2BUp%2BWords%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Hands on phonics activities and worksheets that make learning reading so much fun" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>As you can see, the sound they're practicing is highlighted in the word... it makes it a lot easier to remember to say EW for ew (instead of trying to sound out the letters individually) when it stands out to them.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7QOmMHoQ-J8/VuYtkl73CvI/AAAAAAAAC4E/E8XqmkhTUoUl8Om8xE2MQOfgkHrvujz2w/s1600/NP%2B-%2BCutting%2BUp%2BWords%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hands on phonics activities and worksheets that make learning reading so much fun" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7QOmMHoQ-J8/VuYtkl73CvI/AAAAAAAAC4E/E8XqmkhTUoUl8Om8xE2MQOfgkHrvujz2w/s640/NP%2B-%2BCutting%2BUp%2BWords%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="Hands on phonics activities and worksheets that make learning reading so much fun" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />You can also have them highlight the entire word when they're reading more length.<br />This is really helpful, especially for passages that you reread several times, because when they come to the word, they'll already know to look for the focus sound.<br /><br />Here's an example I made of our phonics notebooks that show what I mean:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qNv6TBn77qc/VuYtb0B69VI/AAAAAAAAC4A/w27eNoDdbycJWH7RV1yu_46Je4JfKEhXQ/s1600/Fluency%2BNotebook%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reading interactive notebooks for first grade phonics practice that are fun puzzles with a ton of different reading skills incorporated.. check these out!" border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qNv6TBn77qc/VuYtb0B69VI/AAAAAAAAC4A/w27eNoDdbycJWH7RV1yu_46Je4JfKEhXQ/s640/Fluency%2BNotebook%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="Reading interactive notebooks for first grade phonics practice that are fun puzzles with a ton of different reading skills incorporated.. check these out!" width="640" /></a></div><br />As you can see, they only highlight words that use the focus sound.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HQnepB1ditA/VuYtYPGP_cI/AAAAAAAAC4A/tfafTcA6Lms0fCGZEOnzHLAKJCsMNxXsA/s1600/Fluency%2BNotebook%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reading interactive notebooks for first grade phonics practice that are fun puzzles with a ton of different reading skills incorporated.. check these out!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HQnepB1ditA/VuYtYPGP_cI/AAAAAAAAC4A/tfafTcA6Lms0fCGZEOnzHLAKJCsMNxXsA/s640/Fluency%2BNotebook%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Reading interactive notebooks for first grade phonics practice that are fun puzzles with a ton of different reading skills incorporated.. check these out!" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>If they have the time and space, also have them write the words they highlighted below. Writing really helps with retention when it comes to tricky vowel sounds like this!<br /><br />Make sure they only highlight the words with the specific sound you're practicing too. UI and EW make the same sound but if they're practicing them in isolation, have them only highlight the words that make that sound <i>and</i>&nbsp;use those letters ("ew" below).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UUqjcZWbKYU/VuYtbKKrCAI/AAAAAAAAC4A/xvu7jp71Wpo_mdl8yzsxkUhzaBBgigRPA/s1600/Fluency%2BNotebook%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reading interactive notebooks for first grade phonics practice that are fun puzzles with a ton of different reading skills incorporated.. check these out!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UUqjcZWbKYU/VuYtbKKrCAI/AAAAAAAAC4A/xvu7jp71Wpo_mdl8yzsxkUhzaBBgigRPA/s640/Fluency%2BNotebook%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Reading interactive notebooks for first grade phonics practice that are fun puzzles with a ton of different reading skills incorporated.. check these out!" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>These phonics notebook pieces aren't in the no prep pack. They are in my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Vowel-Teams-2178291" target="_blank">Vowel Teams Fluency Puzzles</a> bundle (if you want these for the entire year for phonics, click <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Fluency-Puzzles-BUNDLE-1956968" target="_blank">HERE</a>).<br /><br />I love them because they practice one phonics sound at a time for a lot of fluency practice but also incorporate sequencing and comprehension so they practice a lot of skills all in one puzzle! Kids read the story then sequence the events of the passage in order and color the pictures.<br /><br />You can use the color versions in small groups for really fun reading practice and then later as a review literacy center!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4kRvdNp12Qc/VuYtbxufc4I/AAAAAAAAC4A/dtM6HsmHe0gCMhXVUBy7EebfaH4_5SSbw/s1600/Fluency%2BPuzzles%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Reading comprehension passages for first grade that are PUZZLES... kids read the passage and have to sequence the events of the story to make the puzzle" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4kRvdNp12Qc/VuYtbxufc4I/AAAAAAAAC4A/dtM6HsmHe0gCMhXVUBy7EebfaH4_5SSbw/s640/Fluency%2BPuzzles%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Reading comprehension passages for first grade that are PUZZLES... kids read the passage and have to sequence the events of the story to make the puzzle" width="480" /></a></div><br />The black and white versions that go in notebooks, though, are great to build a phonics notebook with that students can keep, reread, and reference all year. I really recommend phonics notebooks if you don't already do them with your students.<br /><br />I also like <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/My-Little-Phonics-Books-MEGA-Bundle-Entire-Year-Set-1278285" target="_blank">Phonics Little Books</a> to practice each sound and to take home to read to family.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_MUT1qs2qBk/VuYtdCOmhCI/AAAAAAAAC4A/Y0kxi-3AR_EbQEnljy8C8ZLJpMz4L8y-w/s1600/Little%2BBooks.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="So many great phonics books and activities and ideas on this post!" border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_MUT1qs2qBk/VuYtdCOmhCI/AAAAAAAAC4A/Y0kxi-3AR_EbQEnljy8C8ZLJpMz4L8y-w/s640/Little%2BBooks.JPG" title="So many great phonics books and activities and ideas on this post!" width="640" /></a></div><br />I'd show you the inside but I just realized I copied the insides of these upside down by accident (ha!) so I'm going to have to hurry and remake them and take a new picture for you guys later. :)<br /><br />Just a few more pages from the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/EW-UE-UI-Worksheets-Activities-NO-PREP-2441083" target="_blank">EW UE UI pack</a> I want to show you guys before I go and do that...<br /><br />Circle the Word to differentiate the different long U sounds you're practicing:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IYppPep50DQ/VuYthX0fsgI/AAAAAAAAC4M/kx-wFIEz4Fo9KUDOwKISXYRQleZR2GNcA/s1600/NP%2B-%2BCircle%2Bthe%2BWord.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Circle the correct spelling of the long u words to practice the ew ue ui sounds... love these worksheets for phonics" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IYppPep50DQ/VuYthX0fsgI/AAAAAAAAC4M/kx-wFIEz4Fo9KUDOwKISXYRQleZR2GNcA/s640/NP%2B-%2BCircle%2Bthe%2BWord.JPG" title="Circle the correct spelling of the long u words to practice the ew ue ui sounds... love these worksheets for phonics" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div></div><div>A few pages of ABC order practice! I include these in all the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phonics-No-Prep-Massive-MEGA-Bundle-1701361" target="_blank">phonics packs</a> so they get ABC order practice EVERY. WEEK. because, seriously is it just me or do they completely forget how to do it if they didn't <i>just</i>&nbsp;practice it? So this is an easy way to practice it every single week that involves them reading the words for the week - sneaky sneaky :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hgEBSrvzvOU/VuYteTBaUPI/AAAAAAAAC4A/M9mlUL9LgDcHdphDGe8Q9d1BReQH6_DZw/s1600/NP%2B-%2BABC%2BOrder.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="ABC order practice worksheets that are hands on - kids can move the words around until they get it right which provides a ton of reading practice" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hgEBSrvzvOU/VuYteTBaUPI/AAAAAAAAC4A/M9mlUL9LgDcHdphDGe8Q9d1BReQH6_DZw/s640/NP%2B-%2BABC%2BOrder.JPG" title="ABC order practice worksheets that are hands on - kids can move the words around until they get it right which provides a ton of reading practice" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div>and of course.... Spin A Word! Use a pencil and a paperclip to spin the spinner and add what it lands on to the next letter(s) to build a word. If it's a real word, circle it! They can play this all by themselves OR with a partner to see who gets the most circles.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xl2b76KeABE/VuYtrNCYUcI/AAAAAAAAC4E/jdSfJIwfxyEmu-ODNV1kUrb7G5D-Vcn4A/s1600/NP%2B-%2BSpin%2Ba%2BWord%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Use a pencil and a paperclip to make a fun spinner game for phonics to build words" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Xl2b76KeABE/VuYtrNCYUcI/AAAAAAAAC4E/jdSfJIwfxyEmu-ODNV1kUrb7G5D-Vcn4A/s640/NP%2B-%2BSpin%2Ba%2BWord%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Use a pencil and a paperclip to make a fun spinner game for phonics to build words" width="640" /></a></div><br />Speaking of sneaky sneaky, I love this center because even your "pretend" readers will try to sound these out to see if it's a real word so they can circle it. :)<br /><br /></div><div>Well I'm sure that's enough rambling and pictures for you!!<br />I just wanted to provide a lot of ideas for EW UE UI since it's such a tricky sound.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a5-yv2xOHDY/VuYtYNUiOrI/AAAAAAAAC4A/yWM5unUChtI_GCJg8yYZAS85NORxp0cvQ/s1600/Cookie%2BSheet.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Use a magnetic cookie sheet from the dollar store to build words for teaching phonics" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a5-yv2xOHDY/VuYtYNUiOrI/AAAAAAAAC4A/yWM5unUChtI_GCJg8yYZAS85NORxp0cvQ/s640/Cookie%2BSheet.JPG" title="Use a magnetic cookie sheet from the dollar store to build words for teaching phonics" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Like I said in the beginning, you can do any of these activities for any phonics sound! I make <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phonics-No-Prep-Massive-MEGA-Bundle-1701361" target="_blank">phonics packs</a>, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Fluency-Puzzles-BUNDLE-1956968" target="_blank">fluency puzzles</a>, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phonics-Pocket-Chart-Centers-BUNDLE-2357636" target="_blank">pocket chart cards</a>, etc. for all the different phonics sounds so just look for them in <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Miss-Giraffe" target="_blank">my TpT shop</a> if you want them for any sound or feel free to email me if you need help finding them!<br /><br />If you liked this, I wrote a similar post for ideas to&nbsp;<a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/09/short-activities-and-resources.html" target="_blank">teach short A</a> that can also be used with any phonics sound. :)<br /><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">Follow me&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/themissgiraffe/" target="_blank">on Pinterest</a>&nbsp;for more teaching ideas!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Also - don't forget to join&nbsp;<a href="http://eepurl.com/1WAO9" target="_blank">Miss Giraffe's Class</a>&nbsp;so you never miss out on fun ideas and exclusive&nbsp;<b>free stuff</b>&nbsp;from me only for subscribers!</span></div></div>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-53214102842588755192016-02-13T19:15:00.001-07:002018-01-11T17:48:50.038-07:00Teaching MoneyTeaching money is a lot of fun because there are so many money games for kids and, best of all, kids are so excited to learn how to count coins and make change so engagement is at an all-time high.<br /><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U8DXmGHs0h4/Vr_AF85MjMI/AAAAAAAACqo/PKy604HUZ7s/s1600/Coins%2BSorting%2BMats%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Identifying coins sorting mats and other teaching money ideas for kids" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U8DXmGHs0h4/Vr_AF85MjMI/AAAAAAAACqo/PKy604HUZ7s/s640/Coins%2BSorting%2BMats%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="Identifying coins sorting mats and other teaching money ideas for kids" width="480" /></a></div><br /></div><div>First things first, you want to teach them the actual coins. I think a really easy way to do this is to give students coin manipulatives and introduce each one. Have them each pick up a penny and have them examine it, look at the front and back, and tell them it is worth 1 cent. Walk around to make sure each student is holding the right coin. Ask them what they notice about it. Do this for each coin until you've talked about each coin. You could do a quick practice/assessment at the end of your lesson by saying things like, "Hand a quarter to your partner!" "Grab 2 pennies!" in a quick, fun fashion.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1v2v7EpmInU/Vr_Asvju63I/AAAAAAAACqs/I0C0SkKEMrM/s1600/Coins%2BSorting%2BMats%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Coin identification activities and games to make learning to identify coins fun and hands on for kids" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1v2v7EpmInU/Vr_Asvju63I/AAAAAAAACqs/I0C0SkKEMrM/s640/Coins%2BSorting%2BMats%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Coin identification activities and games to make learning to identify coins fun and hands on for kids" width="480" /></a></div><br />Once you've gone over all of the coins, give each table/group/partners the sorting mats for each coin and a lot of coin manipulatives to sort onto the mats. You could also make this an independent center or do it in small groups.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C8s3GNMfPME/Vr_BAFztsHI/AAAAAAAACq0/XPFhVe3tmz8/s1600/Coin%2BPosters%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Identifying coin anchor charts ideas or use as coin posters to hands up in your classroom when you teach money and other fun learning coins ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-C8s3GNMfPME/Vr_BAFztsHI/AAAAAAAACq0/XPFhVe3tmz8/s640/Coin%2BPosters%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="Identifying coin anchor charts ideas or use as coin posters to hands up in your classroom when you teach money and other fun learning coins ideas" width="480" /></a></div>I also like to add posters to the math wall so they can reference them when they need help.<br /><br />They can practice distinguishing between coins with cut and paste work where they color the coin and then sort it into the correct box. Coloring it the correct color, copper (brown crayon is fine) or silver, will also help them internalize the difference so I recommend starting with the sorts that have a penny. I made one to sort each type of coin (pennies/nickels, pennies/dimes, pennies/quarters, nickels/dimes, nickels/quarters, etc.). Each one comes in FRONTS only so they just have to recognize it by the front of the coin and also a fronts <i>and</i>&nbsp;backs version where they're sorting the same coin no matter what side is showing. Start with the fronts only and then do the fronts/backs versions to scaffold it.</div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2UGIkKEZl1M/Vr_BxOAvS-I/AAAAAAAACq8/_xwAiQpskzM/s1600/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BCoin%2BSort%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Identifying pennies and dimes first grade and kindergarten coin identification activities that are hands on games and centers" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2UGIkKEZl1M/Vr_BxOAvS-I/AAAAAAAACq8/_xwAiQpskzM/s640/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BCoin%2BSort%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Identifying pennies and dimes first grade and kindergarten coin identification activities that are hands on games and centers" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Ki82p2240k/Vr_Bzi_pYsI/AAAAAAAACrA/tgNl3COpUB8/s1600/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BCoin%2BSort%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Identifying coins worksheets and activities to practice quarters nickels dimes and pennies" border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2Ki82p2240k/Vr_Bzi_pYsI/AAAAAAAACrA/tgNl3COpUB8/s640/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BCoin%2BSort%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Identifying coins worksheets and activities to practice quarters nickels dimes and pennies" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />Simple coin distinguishing tasks like "Color by..." type worksheets are great for practicing identifying coins with help.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s1NGyw93azo/Vr_C8QWc4XI/AAAAAAAACrQ/3Hl5MTHT1J0/s1600/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BColor%2Bby%2BCoin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Identifying coins worksheets that are fun and hands on learning money practice for students" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s1NGyw93azo/Vr_C8QWc4XI/AAAAAAAACrQ/3Hl5MTHT1J0/s640/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BColor%2Bby%2BCoin.JPG" title="Identifying coins worksheets that are fun and hands on learning money practice for students" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />As you know, I'm just a big fan of cutting and pasting activities because it has the hands-on sort component without all the prep and kids really have to think about where they place things because they see glue as so permanent. :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2neCRa8dJWc/Vr_DOCZdGaI/AAAAAAAACrU/7oEOmsaRvrk/s1600/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BFront%2Band%2BBack%2BMatch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Coin identification activities and ideas - check these out!" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2neCRa8dJWc/Vr_DOCZdGaI/AAAAAAAACrU/7oEOmsaRvrk/s640/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BFront%2Band%2BBack%2BMatch.JPG" title="Coin identification activities and ideas - check these out!" width="480" /></a></div><br />Once they know the front and back of the coin pretty well, you could add in the extra element of value.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VDXP1snkJAE/Vr_DP8poC5I/AAAAAAAACrY/WjLTUCb2vlQ/s1600/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BMatch%2BUp.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Easy and fun teaching money activities for kids" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VDXP1snkJAE/Vr_DP8poC5I/AAAAAAAACrY/WjLTUCb2vlQ/s640/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BMatch%2BUp.JPG" title="Easy and fun teaching money activities for kids" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Another super fun way to practice coin identification is to use MAZES!<br />For these students are looking for a certain coin (in this example, a penny) and they color their way to the end of the maze!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Z3-c__ByMk/Vr_Dt0TI3nI/AAAAAAAACrk/hjfMdmHrEEc/s1600/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BMazes%2B%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Identifying coins mazes where kids color the coin to the end of the maze!" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1Z3-c__ByMk/Vr_Dt0TI3nI/AAAAAAAACrk/hjfMdmHrEEc/s640/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BMazes%2B%25284%2529.JPG" title="Identifying coins mazes where kids color the coin to the end of the maze!" width="480" /></a></div><br />Instead of coloring, you could have them use coin manipulatives to cover up the coin they're looking for to complete the maze. Any time you can make learning hands on and tactile, that's a plus! :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xvsMQWA3jMU/Vr_DtlwRgHI/AAAAAAAACrg/Gbo7NFENrAg/s1600/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BMazes%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Identifying coins game that is hands on and fun for kids to color in or cover the dimes they see to get through the maze" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xvsMQWA3jMU/Vr_DtlwRgHI/AAAAAAAACrg/Gbo7NFENrAg/s640/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BMazes%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="Identifying coins game that is hands on and fun for kids to color in or cover the dimes they see to get through the maze" width="480" /></a></div><br />Speaking of hands on and tactile, we all know I LOVE DICE. Dice is just the best. It makes any concept seem like a game.<br /><br />I made coin dice so students can roll and cover the coin they rolled.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nb6wRV-n_cQ/Vr_EgAB2kzI/AAAAAAAACr0/zRLqsiDg0m4/s1600/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BRoll%2Ba%2BCoin%2BCover%2B%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Teaching money and coin identification games and activities that are so much fun!" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Nb6wRV-n_cQ/Vr_EgAB2kzI/AAAAAAAACr0/zRLqsiDg0m4/s640/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BRoll%2Ba%2BCoin%2BCover%2B%25284%2529.JPG" title="Teaching money and coin identification games and activities that are so much fun!" width="480" /></a></div><br />As you can see, they are simply rolling the dice and coloring in that coin. It's a great center they can play by themselves OR play with a partner. To play with a partner, they each need their own mat. Then, they each take turns rolling the dice and coloring in that coin on their mat. If there aren't any left of that coin, they don't color anything in and it's their partner's turn. Whoever can color in their entire mat first wins.<br /><br />I also made BACKS versions of the mats so you can have them roll the FRONTS dice but have to figure out which BACK it is to color it in. This is <b>awesome</b>&nbsp;practice for matching fronts/backs as the same coin which can be a hard skill but with a game like this, they won't realize it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fB79K7SoSlI/Vr_E-T2hhNI/AAAAAAAACr4/NVEggZrTL8g/s1600/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BRoll%2Ba%2BCoin%2BCover%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Money games to practice coin identification that are differentiated and fun for first grade and kindergarten" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fB79K7SoSlI/Vr_E-T2hhNI/AAAAAAAACr4/NVEggZrTL8g/s640/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BRoll%2Ba%2BCoin%2BCover%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="Money games to practice coin identification that are differentiated and fun for first grade and kindergarten" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also made a BACKS dice so you could have them roll the BACKS dice and match it to the FRONT on their mat. You can also have them do the BACKS dice and BACKS mat for easy matching that way. A great way to build up their skills is to do the fronts mat/fronts dice then the backs mat/backs dice, then the fronts mat/backs dice, and then the backs mat/fronts dice so they get 4 different centers out of it and a ton of practice.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EQXtu32S_DQ/Vr_FCQPa_UI/AAAAAAAACr8/Cu5neHLYhiU/s1600/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BRoll%2Ba%2BCoin%2BCover%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Coin identification activities for pennies nickels dimes and quarters that make learning money fun for kids!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EQXtu32S_DQ/Vr_FCQPa_UI/AAAAAAAACr8/Cu5neHLYhiU/s640/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BRoll%2Ba%2BCoin%2BCover%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Coin identification activities for pennies nickels dimes and quarters that make learning money fun for kids!" width="480" /></a></div><br />If you notice above, you can also use coins to cover the coin you just rolled instead of coloring it. This is nice because it is tactile for students&nbsp;<i>and</i>&nbsp;makes the mats reusable over and over.<br /><br />I really don't think you can have too many centers and practice. The more kids do themselves and presented in different ways, the more they absorb.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TtYwy85paJ4/Vr_F96mDjdI/AAAAAAAACsM/5ZMxaY3Q5Hg/s1600/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BCenter%2BMatching%2BCards.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Identifying coins math centers to make learning the coins fun and easy" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TtYwy85paJ4/Vr_F96mDjdI/AAAAAAAACsM/5ZMxaY3Q5Hg/s640/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BCenter%2BMatching%2BCards.JPG" title="Identifying coins math centers to make learning the coins fun and easy" width="480" /></a></div><br />This is a simple match center. They can match just the front of the coin and the name if you want to keep it simple. You can add in the backs too or the value... however you want. I also included little blank squares so you can write in any other coin facts (who's on the coin, etc.) you want them to sort.<br /><br />PUZZLES!!! Obviously! What kind of Miss Giraffe's Class math post would this be without puzzles? :D<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3_g9VBuOwbE/Vr_GfbCP1bI/AAAAAAAACsQ/EqRRuZGNCNo/s1600/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BPuzzles%2B3%2Bpiece%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Coin puzzles and money games that are fun and differentiated for math centers" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3_g9VBuOwbE/Vr_GfbCP1bI/AAAAAAAACsQ/EqRRuZGNCNo/s640/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BPuzzles%2B3%2Bpiece%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Coin puzzles and money games that are fun and differentiated for math centers" width="480" /></a></div><br />The above version is a little easier and this is the 4 piece version which is slightly more challenging. I try to differentiate absolutely everything but keep it looking somewhat the same so it's not obvious but everyone gets what they need.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ldgKD43MRSg/Vr_GpOmdgjI/AAAAAAAACsY/z03JKSnmu9E/s1600/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BPuzzles%2B4%2Bpiece%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Coin puzzles and money games that are fun and differentiated for math centers" border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ldgKD43MRSg/Vr_GpOmdgjI/AAAAAAAACsY/z03JKSnmu9E/s640/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BPuzzles%2B4%2Bpiece%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="Coin puzzles and money games that are fun and differentiated for math centers" width="640" /></a></div><br />Another fun center for identifying coins is Grab &amp; Graph!<br /><br />Give students a little bucket of coins and some sort of scoop like a small measuring cup that will allow them to get 3-6 of each coin so they can scoop, sort their coins, then color in the bar graph to show their scoop. They can do it twice (or 4 times if you copy the recording sheet back to back).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eDDhSmozBJs/Vr_HzkY6JpI/AAAAAAAACss/-pXUZ569TUI/s1600/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BGrab%2B%2526%2BGraph%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Graphing coins money activities - click this for a ton of teaching money to kids games and ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eDDhSmozBJs/Vr_HzkY6JpI/AAAAAAAACss/-pXUZ569TUI/s640/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BGrab%2B%2526%2BGraph%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Graphing coins money activities - click this for a ton of teaching money to kids games and ideas" width="480" /></a></div><br />This is a great way to integrate some graphing practice in as well! I also made a data analysis sheet for students up for the challenge to answer questions about their graph. To make it even more challenging for your really high kids, you can copy it front to back so they analyze both grabs.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rJnQ43oIlhU/Vr_H0ZDpyNI/AAAAAAAACsw/1oyCLWy8S4Q/s1600/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BGrab%2B%2526%2BGraph%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Graphing coins money activities - click this for a ton of teaching money to kids games and ideas" border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rJnQ43oIlhU/Vr_H0ZDpyNI/AAAAAAAACsw/1oyCLWy8S4Q/s640/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BGrab%2B%2526%2BGraph%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="Graphing coins money activities - click this for a ton of teaching money to kids games and ideas" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />I think it's so important to integrate concepts any time you can to build those connections which brings me to.... skip counting with coins!<br /><br />Your students most likely practice skip counting during calendar or morning meeting so hopefully they can count by 5s and 10s because that will SO come in handy when adding like coins like nickels and dimes.<br /><br />I recommend pulling them into small groups and using coin manipulatives to have them practice counting pennies, nickels, and dimes by 1s, 5s, and 10s. Give them a pile of pennies and have them count as a group 1, 2, 3, 4.. etc. as they push each coin out of their pile. Then do the same thing with a pile of nickels and count 5, 10, 15, 20, etc. pushing a nickel out of their pile into its own pile as they say each number. Then do the same with dimes and counting by 10. This can be really difficult for some kids but if they already can skip count and are seeing that each coin is worth that much by physically moving it, it'll help a ton!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AKGTKJcP-WE/Vr_KZchVYGI/AAAAAAAACtA/VHIrCxmYRbg/s1600/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BWS%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Counting dimes to practice skip counting by 10 and a lot of other fun counting money activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AKGTKJcP-WE/Vr_KZchVYGI/AAAAAAAACtA/VHIrCxmYRbg/s640/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BWS%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="Counting dimes to practice skip counting by 10 and a lot of other fun counting money activities" width="480" /></a></div><br />So those of you who know me know that I provide 3 levels of every worksheet in my math units - level B is on level and should be appropriate for most of your students, level A is for those who need a little extra help or less overwhelming work, and level C is for those students who crave a challenge.<br /><br />Above shows 3 levels of the same worksheet. Level A (blue dimes) has less coins on the page, they're bigger, and the amounts are smaller for them to color in that amount in dimes. Level B (green dimes) has more dimes and bigger amounts. Level C they write in the amount themselves. Encourage them to count by 10s as they color in each dime. They can even write counting by 10s above the coin for extra support if that helps them, like I showed in the Level C example.<br /><br />Here are the pennies...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VvwgSoF6aFQ/Vr_L4kKj8TI/AAAAAAAACtM/RBr2zBmxRFw/s1600/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BWS%2B%25287%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Counting pennies worksheets and money activities and games to practice counting money" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VvwgSoF6aFQ/Vr_L4kKj8TI/AAAAAAAACtM/RBr2zBmxRFw/s640/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BWS%2B%25287%2529.JPG" title="Counting pennies worksheets and money activities and games to practice counting money" width="480" /></a></div><br />I made the 3 levels for all of the coins...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3RUSOH_rDXw/Vr_L4zPsHUI/AAAAAAAACtQ/3Cz7yrehKlY/s1600/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BWS%2B%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Differentiated money worksheets and so many fun learning money activities to teach kids how to count coins including counting dimes, nickles, and pennies" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3RUSOH_rDXw/Vr_L4zPsHUI/AAAAAAAACtQ/3Cz7yrehKlY/s640/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BWS%2B%25284%2529.JPG" title="Differentiated money worksheets and so many fun learning money activities to teach kids how to count coins including counting dimes, nickles, and pennies" width="480" /></a></div><br />I really recommend A LOT of practice with adding like coins (only adding pennies) before you start having them add mixed coins. If they can really master adding like coins, it'll make it much easier.<br /><br />I wanted to provide a ton of practice so I made this adding like coins center where they grab a card, add it up, and write the amount in cents on their recording sheet.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6SXd7rhMcAo/Vr_Mb343uxI/AAAAAAAACtU/khZXBR_bUvE/s1600/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BCenter%2BCards%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Counting pennies activities and games and a lot of other great coin identification math centers and worksheets" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6SXd7rhMcAo/Vr_Mb343uxI/AAAAAAAACtU/khZXBR_bUvE/s640/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BCenter%2BCards%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="Counting pennies activities and games and a lot of other great coin identification math centers and worksheets" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />There are 9 cards in a set labeled A-I and I also made a recording sheet to write them all down, as well as an easier recording sheet with letters A-F if you want to give struggling students only 6 cards to do at a time.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_sOpGP202hM/Vr_McG41pbI/AAAAAAAACtY/EI5lD-Ooo6Q/s1600/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BCenter%2BCards%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="So many great teaching money activities and ideas!! Counting dimes math center and so much more to practice counting coins!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_sOpGP202hM/Vr_McG41pbI/AAAAAAAACtY/EI5lD-Ooo6Q/s640/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BCenter%2BCards%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="So many great teaching money activities and ideas!! Counting dimes math center and so much more to practice counting coins!" width="480" /></a></div><br />I made a full A-I set for every coin (pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters) so there are 4 different centers. I definitely recommend doing all 4 of the centers (separately, on different days) to get all that practice in.<br /><br />This, I think, is really <b>important</b>...<br />When teaching adding like coins, I think it's best to start with adding pennies and have all of your activities/centers/worksheets be JUST adding pennies until they fully master it.<br /><br />Once they master pennies, move onto nickels and all of your worksheets/centers/activities are adding nickels and counting by 5s. Then dimes, then quarters. If you have them doing them all right away, you'll confuse them. When you first introduce the concept, you can show them how different coins have different values and how you'll be learning all of them but I would practice just one at a time, each until mastery.<br /><br />Once you're done practicing all 4 of the coins, these also make a good review center. Mix and match them to make a bunch of different review centers. Just make sure you only have one card for each letter A-I (or A-F with the easier recording sheet) and it's an instant review math station.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wf5dS4g16Wc/Vr_McHhjUKI/AAAAAAAACtc/ULD1VuWX_2Q/s1600/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BCenter%2BCards%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Counting coins first grade math centers that are differentiated and fun so they could also be used in kindergarten and 2nd grade for kids to practice counting pennies nickels dimes and quarters" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wf5dS4g16Wc/Vr_McHhjUKI/AAAAAAAACtc/ULD1VuWX_2Q/s640/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BCenter%2BCards%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Counting coins first grade math centers that are differentiated and fun so they could also be used in kindergarten and 2nd grade for kids to practice counting pennies nickels dimes and quarters" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Another fun way to practice adding like coins is with cut and pastes.<br /><br />They color all the pennies then glue them into the boxes to make each amount. I made them for each coin but, again, I recommend focusing on adding 1 type of coin at a time.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ml64rHgNsV8/Vr_VJbOpakI/AAAAAAAACt4/ojxWkuPOVLs/s1600/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BSkip%2BCounting%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Counting pennies worksheets and activities that are hands on and fun and a ton of other teaching money to kids ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ml64rHgNsV8/Vr_VJbOpakI/AAAAAAAACt4/ojxWkuPOVLs/s640/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BSkip%2BCounting%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Counting pennies worksheets and activities that are hands on and fun and a ton of other teaching money to kids ideas" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WUBgotsQ8YU/Vr_VLDIQ3uI/AAAAAAAACt8/Ajn2gZUDHEU/s1600/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BSkip%2BCounting%2B%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Counting nickels and other fun counting money activities for kids that are so fun and hands on" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WUBgotsQ8YU/Vr_VLDIQ3uI/AAAAAAAACt8/Ajn2gZUDHEU/s640/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BSkip%2BCounting%2B%25284%2529.JPG" title="Counting nickels and other fun counting money activities for kids that are so fun and hands on" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bgjcpgt99wU/Vr_VJZYrFsI/AAAAAAAACuA/yHE4b41Ob2U/s1600/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BSkip%2BCounting%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Counting dimes and other fun counting money activities for kids that are so fun and hands on" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bgjcpgt99wU/Vr_VJZYrFsI/AAAAAAAACuA/yHE4b41Ob2U/s640/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BSkip%2BCounting%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="Counting dimes and other fun counting money activities for kids that are so fun and hands on" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know a lot of people only teach counting coins up to a dollar but I include quarters too to challenge the kids who are ready. Plus learning about quarters can be really helpful as a meaningful connection when you start learning about fourths in fractions. It also exposes them to the $ sign and what that means.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BPOeeva5FiA/Vr_VJd4y-HI/AAAAAAAACt0/zXy5N1RAew4/s1600/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BSkip%2BCounting%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Counting quarters and other fun counting money activities for kids that are so fun and hands on" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BPOeeva5FiA/Vr_VJd4y-HI/AAAAAAAACt0/zXy5N1RAew4/s640/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BSkip%2BCounting%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Counting quarters and other fun counting money activities for kids that are so fun and hands on" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once they're mastering skip counting with coins, these coin sheets are a great review worksheet or mini assessment to see how they're doing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1ecxwtm3-EU/Vr_HKJbaSXI/AAAAAAAACsk/CReCp65NJ6s/s1600/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BWS%2BCoins%2B%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Learning coins worksheets and activities for a lot of money learning fun!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1ecxwtm3-EU/Vr_HKJbaSXI/AAAAAAAACsk/CReCp65NJ6s/s640/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BWS%2BCoins%2B%25284%2529.JPG" title="Learning coins worksheets and activities for a lot of money learning fun!" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They write how much the coin is worth, color in the ones they see, and then show that they can add the like coins together by coloring them in. Like I said, it's a good assessment and so are the other worksheets you can kind of peek at in this picture.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cqaeytLl0nA/Vr_HKHoNYHI/AAAAAAAACs0/oxTRQSwzSYo/s1600/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BWS%2BCoins%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Identifying coins and counting coins worksheets for first grade or kindergarten and lots of great ideas for teaching money" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cqaeytLl0nA/Vr_HKHoNYHI/AAAAAAAACs0/oxTRQSwzSYo/s640/ID%2BCoins%2B-%2BWS%2BCoins%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Identifying coins and counting coins worksheets for first grade or kindergarten and lots of great ideas for teaching money" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here are some more review activities that I think are fun:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sIDC4fWGisA/Vr_Wh62uOmI/AAAAAAAACuE/buBdHnuECJ8/s1600/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BMatch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Adding coins worksheets and activities that turn making change into fun hands on games" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sIDC4fWGisA/Vr_Wh62uOmI/AAAAAAAACuE/buBdHnuECJ8/s640/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BMatch.JPG" title="Adding coins worksheets and activities that turn making change into fun hands on games" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iWDYicVUqa0/Vr_WigmV48I/AAAAAAAACuM/HNFtrkNJH7w/s1600/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BCenter%2BRolling%2BCoins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Math games to teach money and counting coins and making change" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iWDYicVUqa0/Vr_WigmV48I/AAAAAAAACuM/HNFtrkNJH7w/s640/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BCenter%2BRolling%2BCoins.JPG" title="Math games to teach money and counting coins and making change" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For the Rolling Coins center, I recommend using the dice without a quarter unless you want to really challenge them. Give them the coin dice and they roll it alongside a regular dice. The coin dice will tell them which coin and the regular dice will tell them how many of the coin they take. I recommend having real coin manipulatives for them to take once they roll it. Then draw what they see in the box - (D) is for dime - and then total it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They'll play this game again once you start adding mixed coins by rolling twice (or three times if you really want to challenge them). It'd be the same thing but they roll twice to get 2 different sets of coins to add. So, as you can see, their first roll was a 3 and a nickel and then a 2 and a dime which made (N)(N)(N)(D)(D) and totaled 35 cents.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-izoA6jl2bFY/Vr_XQmEvA_I/AAAAAAAACuU/udSDW-t9ZkI/s1600/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BCenter%2BRolling%2BCoins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Rolling coins math center to practice making change and counting coins in a fun hands on way and lots of other money games ideas on this site" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-izoA6jl2bFY/Vr_XQmEvA_I/AAAAAAAACuU/udSDW-t9ZkI/s640/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BCenter%2BRolling%2BCoins.JPG" title="Rolling coins math center to practice making change and counting coins in a fun hands on way and lots of other money games ideas on this site" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There are SO MANY fun activities you can do for adding mixed coins!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Don't move on to adding mixed coins until they completely master adding like coins but, once they do, this skill is fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My favorite game for adding mixed coins is "Fill My Piggy Bank!"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KmiW5yaSBsE/Vr_X0o0vUSI/AAAAAAAACuc/z-js2wKFitk/s1600/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BCenter%2BPiggy%2BBanks%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Counting coins activities and games that turn making change into a fun game with dice and these cute piggy bank mats" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KmiW5yaSBsE/Vr_X0o0vUSI/AAAAAAAACuc/z-js2wKFitk/s640/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BCenter%2BPiggy%2BBanks%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Counting coins activities and games that turn making change into a fun game with dice and these cute piggy bank mats" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For this center, each kid playing gets a piggy bank mat. There are 4 different colors and a black/white option. You laminate the mats so that they can write their amount in the corner with a dry erase marker.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Each kid takes a turn rolling the coin dice. They take that <b>one</b> coin and place it on their piggy bank mat and write how much they have in their piggy bank. For example, if they rolled a dime, they'd put a dime coin in their pig and write 10 cents. On their next turn, they roll a nickel. So they add a nickel to their mat, erase the 10 cents, and write 15 cents.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ESX0uoMNCXU/Vr_X0qpEaaI/AAAAAAAACug/iC1U7Bjc6uQ/s1600/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BCenter%2BPiggy%2BBanks%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Counting coins worksheets and an amazing collection of money games and coin activities for learning coins!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ESX0uoMNCXU/Vr_X0qpEaaI/AAAAAAAACug/iC1U7Bjc6uQ/s640/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BCenter%2BPiggy%2BBanks%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Counting coins worksheets and an amazing collection of money games and coin activities for learning coins!" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Every single turn they are adding coins so it is A LOT of practice. It's a great small group game so you can monitor as well as a good partner center. I recommend playing until someone reaches a dollar or you can differentiate easily by telling them they're racing to another amount like 50 cents. It is my favorite!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also made a bunch of worksheets to practice. Normally I recommend giving kids different worksheets to differentiate but I think for this concept, everyone should start at Level A which only practices mixing 2 coins at once and not very many of them. I made a Level A sheet for every possible mix (pennies/nickels, pennies/dimes, nickels/dimes, etc.) so this one, for example, is adding dimes and pennies only.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q8UVF4mAZiI/Vr_ZklgFdRI/AAAAAAAACus/nNqH1_WPB8w/s1600/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BWS%2B%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q8UVF4mAZiI/Vr_ZklgFdRI/AAAAAAAACus/nNqH1_WPB8w/s640/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BWS%2B%25284%2529.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For some kids, this will be a struggle to start skip counting a different way when they get to a different coin. A lot of them will keep skip counting by 10s even when it switches to pennies. It just takes practice. It might help to also give them coin manipulatives to use on the side as they do this. Something about seeing the real coin helps. You can also have them write 10 above the dimes and 1 above the pennies if that helps them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Level B also only practices 2 coins at once but has more coins for each problem. Once they master the A worksheets, move on to the level Bs. There are a lot of different worksheets so you could have students move at their own pace as well.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Nx3OPEzRlQ/Vr_ZkqdRz7I/AAAAAAAACu0/7wb25He8-wk/s1600/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BWS%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Counting dimes and nickels worksheet and so many other money worksheets and activities that making counting coins fun for kids!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--Nx3OPEzRlQ/Vr_ZkqdRz7I/AAAAAAAACu0/7wb25He8-wk/s640/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BWS%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Counting dimes and nickels worksheet and so many other money worksheets and activities that making counting coins fun for kids!" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once they can do the Level B worksheets, Level C has mixes of any amount of coins and are any of the coins put together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I do put them in value order always because I think that's an important lesson to teach is to put the coins in value order before they start counting them up. For example, if they have 4 pennies, 1 quarter, and 2 nickels. They'd put the quarter first, then the nickels, then the pennies before they started counting them. It just makes it so much easier!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LDHnPHT_azw/Vr_Zkl9GHiI/AAAAAAAACuw/EOBJumfKQB8/s1600/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BWS%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Counting coins worksheets and activities in a bunch of different levels for a lot of money practice" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LDHnPHT_azw/Vr_Zkl9GHiI/AAAAAAAACuw/EOBJumfKQB8/s640/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BWS%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="Counting coins worksheets and activities in a bunch of different levels for a lot of money practice" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also think they should be able to pick coins to make amounts like this to sort of flip flop the skill.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For this one, you give them an amount and they color in the coins they need to make it:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nZB1IlQgCQU/Vr_bKdELlmI/AAAAAAAACvE/xWOsjYmtnzs/s1600/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BWS%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Making change worksheets that make it fun for kids to learn how to count coins!" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nZB1IlQgCQU/Vr_bKdELlmI/AAAAAAAACvE/xWOsjYmtnzs/s640/Adding%2BLike%2BCoins%2B-%2BWS%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Making change worksheets that make it fun for kids to learn how to count coins!" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This one takes it a step further for more of a challenge and they have to draw their own coins to show how they made the amount. I <i>highly</i>&nbsp;recommend giving them coin manipulatives to build the amount first like I'm showing here. Once they find how to make the amount with the coins they have, they can draw it in the box like so.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q5aWOiQZS4U/Vr_bKdRUA0I/AAAAAAAACvA/xbUJZtFHICk/s1600/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BWS%2BMaking%2BChange.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Making change worksheets that make it fun for kids to learn how to count coins!" border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q5aWOiQZS4U/Vr_bKdRUA0I/AAAAAAAACvA/xbUJZtFHICk/s640/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BWS%2BMaking%2BChange.JPG" title="Making change worksheets that make it fun for kids to learn how to count coins!" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />I also bring back the Adding Coins center again but this time with mixed coin cards!<br />It's always nice to have familiar centers for a new, harder skill so they're comfortable with how to do it and can just focus on the math part of it. :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S_V00GbXmF8/Vr_btHeUuxI/AAAAAAAACvM/JGOELwqXAXc/s1600/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BCenter%2BCounting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Adding coins activities for math centers that come in all different levels so whether you're just learning to count pennies or you're learning how to add all the different coins, there's fun resource and ideas for everyone!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S_V00GbXmF8/Vr_btHeUuxI/AAAAAAAACvM/JGOELwqXAXc/s640/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BCenter%2BCounting.JPG" title="Adding coins activities for math centers that come in all different levels so whether you're just learning to count pennies or you're learning how to add all the different coins, there's fun resource and ideas for everyone!" width="480" /></a></div><br />Same with cutting and pasting activities...<br />These are a format they're already used to but with a bit of a harder skill (mixed coins rather than like coins):<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dt_WSCx6wGk/Vr_b-xihtvI/AAAAAAAACvU/ApffQT773-0/s1600/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BMatch%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Adding coins worksheets and activities that turn making change into a fun hands on center" border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dt_WSCx6wGk/Vr_b-xihtvI/AAAAAAAACvU/ApffQT773-0/s640/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BMatch%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Adding coins worksheets and activities that turn making change into a fun hands on center" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This one is for your students who need a challenge!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Have students build the amount it asks for with the <i>least amount of coins</i>.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They have to do it with the least amount of coins or there won't be enough to build the rest of the numbers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aITNdIBNnKA/Vr_db9uvtOI/AAAAAAAACvo/I9UKj8nSiJk/s1600/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BLeast%2Bamount%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Counting coins worksheets and activities that are hands on and engaging to make learning money fun for your students" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aITNdIBNnKA/Vr_db9uvtOI/AAAAAAAACvo/I9UKj8nSiJk/s640/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BLeast%2Bamount%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Counting coins worksheets and activities that are hands on and engaging to make learning money fun for your students" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>So they cut out the coins at the bottom and build the number. A good way to teach them is to sort their coins by value and use as many of the biggest value coins as they can before they have to switch to the next value down (for example, use quarters to make the number as high as possible without going over until they need to switch to dimes or nickels). Like I said, this is a super&nbsp;<b>challenge</b>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zAddZstDxQw/Vr_db4vSboI/AAAAAAAACvk/gzX9wFZ0qJ8/s1600/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BLeast%2Bamount%2B%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Counting coins is easy with all these fun ideas and games - click on the picture to check them all out!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zAddZstDxQw/Vr_db4vSboI/AAAAAAAACvk/gzX9wFZ0qJ8/s640/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BCP%2BLeast%2Bamount%2B%25281%2529.JPG" title="Counting coins is easy with all these fun ideas and games - click on the picture to check them all out!" width="480" /></a></div><br />As you know from my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/03/how-to-keep-gifted-students-engaged-and.html">how to keep gifted learners engaged and learning</a> post, I care a lot about challenging the high kids and not just sending them off to do something else when they're done so this is a perfect thing for your super high kids to do while the other kids are learning.<br /><br />Other great challenges for your high kids are comparing the values of sets of coins. This is a great skill for any of your kids but it can be challenging.<br /><br />You can have them determine which set of coins has a greater value using the greater than, less than, or equal to symbols which is a great way to integrate and practice that skill!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kHvaZiiBh6k/Vr_eohhQJDI/AAAAAAAACv0/Nv1zErohk3Y/s1600/Comparing%2BCoins%2BCP%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Comparing coin values with greater than less than equal to cut and paste" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kHvaZiiBh6k/Vr_eohhQJDI/AAAAAAAACv0/Nv1zErohk3Y/s640/Comparing%2BCoins%2BCP%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Comparing coin values with greater than less than equal to cut and paste" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can also use the "Adding Coins" center cards to practice this skill in small groups or centers too. Have students take a stack of those cards (mix up the 'like coins' and 'mixed coins' for a big stack) and play War with them. To play War, they flip all the cards upside down and each grab one from the pile - whoever has the biggest amount on their card keeps both cards - and they continue to do this until the pile is empty. Whoever has the most cards when the pile is empty wins!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>You can also have them take 2 sets of the same coin to see which is greater. This is a concrete way for them to see that you can have <i>more</i>&nbsp;coins but <i>less </i>value depending on what coins they are. For example, you have 8 pennies so you have more coins technically but the value is less than 3 nickels. Have them pick those amounts out in coin manipulatives to count and compare them before they decide which is bigger.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0QxeUJfadAc/Vr_eoqpRk8I/AAAAAAAACvw/HRn959QpHHI/s1600/Comparing%2BCoins%2BWS.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Comparing coin amounts and a ton of learning money activities for kids on this post!" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0QxeUJfadAc/Vr_eoqpRk8I/AAAAAAAACvw/HRn959QpHHI/s640/Comparing%2BCoins%2BWS.JPG" title="Comparing coin amounts and a ton of learning money activities for kids on this post!" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />aaaaaaand last but not least.... money word problems!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2JEHgcLs1jA/Vr_fs8dTluI/AAAAAAAACwA/RGzLia6oPYQ/s1600/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BWord%2BProblems%2B%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Money word problems math centers and activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2JEHgcLs1jA/Vr_fs8dTluI/AAAAAAAACwA/RGzLia6oPYQ/s640/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BWord%2BProblems%2B%25283%2529.JPG" title="Money word problems math centers and activities" width="480" /></a></div><br />I think their ability to solve money word problems is the most important part of all of this because it's what they'll encounter <b>in real life</b>.<br /><br />Students match the 3 parts of each word problem: the word problem, its representation in coins, and the sum/answer.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m9rMIykDnGQ/Vr_fswOJu-I/AAAAAAAACv8/MmTsWGjUMuk/s1600/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BWord%2BProblems%2B%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Money word problems math centers and activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m9rMIykDnGQ/Vr_fswOJu-I/AAAAAAAACv8/MmTsWGjUMuk/s640/Adding%2BMixed%2BCoins%2B-%2BWord%2BProblems%2B%25282%2529.JPG" title="Money word problems math centers and activities" width="480" /></a></div><br />Once they match the 3 parts, they write the sum in the circle that has the same letter as the one on the corner of the word problem card. Is it weird that I like word problems?? Oh well, I never claimed to be normal. :) I always make word problems very readable with easy words so that students can focus on the <b>math</b>&nbsp;and not get caught up in the words they don't know. I get so frustrated (and so do students) by word problems with hard to decode words. Like, did Beatrice really need to take 7 hot air balloon rides and 3 catamaran excursions in Paris.. or could we just say that Pam has 7 cats and 3 dogs and make it easier for everyone involved instead? :P<br /><br />At the end of every unit is the test, of course! I always make 3 versions (same difficulty, different problems) so there are 3 money assessments:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yPB31gL93L4/Vr_h60pgw-I/AAAAAAAACwM/lL_DWkkhNk8/s1600/Money%2BTest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Money tests for coin assessments to practice coin identification, counting coins, and more" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yPB31gL93L4/Vr_h60pgw-I/AAAAAAAACwM/lL_DWkkhNk8/s640/Money%2BTest.JPG" title="Money tests for coin assessments to practice coin identification, counting coins, and more" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Phew! I hope that helps you with some fun ways to use this unit or to teach money to your littles!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">If you want these activities, EVERYTHING you saw in this post is in my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Money-Worksheets-and-Money-Games-and-Activities-HUGE-Unit-2373308" target="_blank">GIANT Money Math Unit</a>:</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Math-Unit-19-MONEY-2373308"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4yERVyF69Gw/Vr_iN30tfWI/AAAAAAAACwQ/2eIHOP62Jz4/s640/Slide1.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">I also have this unit in a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/UK-Coins-Money-Unit-2562802" target="_blank">UK coins</a> version and an <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Australian-Coins-Money-Unit-2574147" target="_blank">Australian coins</a> version and a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Canadian-Coins-Money-Unit-2606939" target="_blank">Canadian coins</a> version!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">Want to read more MATH ideas from me?</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">Check out some of these fun posts:</span><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/07/building-number-sense-in-first-grade.html">Building Number Sense</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/08/place-value-moving-and-new-blog-design.html" target="_blank">Place Value</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/02/telling-time.html" target="_blank">Telling Time</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/03/fractions-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">Fractions</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/12/adding-3-numbers.html" target="_blank">Adding 3 Numbers</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/making-10-to-add.html">Making a 10 to Add</a></span><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/07/how-to-teach-arrays.html" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Arrays</span></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/fact-fluency-in-first-grade.html" style="font-size: x-large;">Fact Fluency</a></span><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/04/composing-shapes-in-1st-grade.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Composing Shapes</span></a><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/09/graphing-and-data-analysis-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Graphing and Data</span></a></span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Follow me&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/themissgiraffe/" target="_blank">on Pinterest</a>&nbsp;for more teaching ideas!</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Also - don't forget to join&nbsp;<a href="http://eepurl.com/1WAO9" target="_blank">Miss Giraffe's Class</a>&nbsp;so you never miss out on fun ideas and exclusive <b>free stuff</b> from me only for subscribers!</span></div>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-27419814280158338742016-01-31T18:15:00.001-07:002017-12-20T13:01:00.731-07:00February Writing PromptsFebruary writing prompts are fun! Valentine's Day, Chinese New Year, Groundhog Day, and Presidents' Day are all fun things to learn and write about so I love February for making writing crafts and would love to share some of them with you! :)<br /><br />First up is Groundhog Day!<br />It's such a fun holiday because groundhogs are cute, obviously, and there is a lot of great prediction practice you can do which can lead to great graphing practice in math (Do you predict he will see his shadow? Yes/No bar graphing, tally charts, etc.), talking about the weather or learning about groundhogs in science, and - of course - fun writing!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5lOhhB9YUx4/Vq5tosM0Z-I/AAAAAAAACnE/D3Iui_FqjIE/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Groundhog Day writing activity where kids just write color cut and glue for a super cute Groundhog Day craft!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5lOhhB9YUx4/Vq5tosM0Z-I/AAAAAAAACnE/D3Iui_FqjIE/s640/Slide1.JPG" title="Groundhog Day writing activity where kids just write color cut and glue for a super cute Groundhog Day craft!" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Groundhog-Day-2337864?aref=lzr43y53">Grounghog Day Writing Craft</a></div><br />For this craft, you can have students write about Groundhog Day OR have them make a prediction as to whether or not he will see his shadow and write about that as an opinion piece.<br /><br />Another really fun February holiday to learn about is Chinese New Year!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mf-EmS2bNWk/Vq5tqnDbxPI/AAAAAAAACnc/E8FtvS23vS0/s1600/Slide2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Chinese New Year craft for writing that's no prep! Kids just write, color, cut, and glue to make a beautiful bulletin board" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mf-EmS2bNWk/Vq5tqnDbxPI/AAAAAAAACnc/E8FtvS23vS0/s640/Slide2.JPG" title="Chinese New Year craft for writing that's no prep! Kids just write, color, cut, and glue to make a beautiful bulletin board" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Chinese-New-Year-2337874?aref=hkmpn6uw">Chinese New Year Writing Craft</a></div><br />It's an awesome opportunity to learn about other cultures and how holidays are celebrated around the world. Plus, who doesn't love dragons?!<br /><br />Next up is Valentine's Day!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_2hxaZgRDQs/Vq5tyexin2I/AAAAAAAACoU/HpbwwS8lhos/s1600/Slide9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="FREE Valentine's Day writing craft activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_2hxaZgRDQs/Vq5tyexin2I/AAAAAAAACoU/HpbwwS8lhos/s640/Slide9.JPG" title="FREE Valentine's Day writing craft activities" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Valentines-Day-Craft-2337877?aref=lzr43y53">Valentine's Day Writing Crafts</a></div><br />These super cute <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Valentines-Day-Craft-2337877?aref=lzr43y53">Valentine's Day crafts</a> are <b>FREE</b> in my store! Go grab them! :)<br />I also have free <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Dia-de-San-Valentin-NO-PREP-Writing-Crafts-2340764">Día de San Valentín crafts</a> for those of you who teach in Spanish!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UNzZ31_iLls/Vq5txFckQQI/AAAAAAAACoI/CmnvsKcOqBc/s1600/Slide8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="FREE Valentine's Day writing craft activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UNzZ31_iLls/Vq5txFckQQI/AAAAAAAACoI/CmnvsKcOqBc/s640/Slide8.JPG" title="FREE Valentine's Day writing craft activities" width="480" /></a></div><br />This little owl is Oliver and you may have seen him pop up in my other writing activities before :) I used him for these so students can write about Valentine's Day.<br /><br />I also thought he'd make an adorable AND EASY parent gift. It's always hard to scramble to make cute crafts for parents for holidays and this one students just write, color, cut, and glue to make something for their valentine (mom, grandma, aunt, etc.)...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6MRWpkNuvkM/Vq5twxls-TI/AAAAAAAACoE/2E52rXVSkY4/s1600/Slide7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="FREE Valentine's Day writing craft activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6MRWpkNuvkM/Vq5twxls-TI/AAAAAAAACoE/2E52rXVSkY4/s640/Slide7.JPG" title="FREE Valentine's Day writing craft activities" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />and that leaves Presidents' Day!<br /><br />I really enjoy learning about Presidents' Day. Kids love learning about George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and about America. There are a lot of fun presidents facts out there to make it a fun topic.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-94gQZjHZlVo/Vq5tpfHqtlI/AAAAAAAACnQ/YWt-hIIxm48/s1600/Slide13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Presidents' Day writing activities that are great crafts to display for a February bulletin board" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-94gQZjHZlVo/Vq5tpfHqtlI/AAAAAAAACnQ/YWt-hIIxm48/s640/Slide13.JPG" title="Presidents' Day writing activities that are great crafts to display for a February bulletin board" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Presidents-Day-2337872?aref=ype7gsg6">Presidents' Day Writing Crafts</a></div><br />I made some easy crafts where they can write about Presidents' Day- what it is and why we celebrate it.<br /><br />If you teach facts about George Washington or Abraham Lincoln, these are fun ways for students to show their learning and practice their nonfiction writing skills.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LWvq7gh2E7E/Vq5tuE_odiI/AAAAAAAACn0/8moSislUgAY/s1600/Slide5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="George Washington craft for writing where kids just write color cut and glue to show what they know about our first president" border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LWvq7gh2E7E/Vq5tuE_odiI/AAAAAAAACn0/8moSislUgAY/s320/Slide5.JPG" title="George Washington craft for writing where kids just write color cut and glue to show what they know about our first president" width="240" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tj_5iCf-S1k/Vq5ttbC4IKI/AAAAAAAACno/DCCJL0fwBuE/s1600/Slide4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Abraham Lincoln craft for writing where kids just write color cut and glue" border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tj_5iCf-S1k/Vq5ttbC4IKI/AAAAAAAACno/DCCJL0fwBuE/s320/Slide4.JPG" title="Abraham Lincoln craft for writing where kids just write color cut and glue" width="240" /></a></div><br />For a little bit of creative writing fun, have them imagine what it'd be like if they lived in the White House. What would they do? It's a really fun topic to brainstorm together!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ha4Z0NC0OJM/Vq6v9T50LBI/AAAAAAAACoo/K80RiIejOCY/s1600/Slide21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="If I Lived in the White House anchor chart and other fun Presidents Day activities and ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ha4Z0NC0OJM/Vq6v9T50LBI/AAAAAAAACoo/K80RiIejOCY/s640/Slide21.JPG" title="If I Lived in the White House anchor chart and other fun Presidents Day activities and ideas" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Once you've got their brains swirling with ideas, have them go back to their seats to write what they would do!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KdmcR8xDOYI/Vq5twHxEluI/AAAAAAAACn8/h6OVt5iwg0A/s1600/Slide6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="If I Lived in the White House writing activities and other fun Presidents Day activities and ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KdmcR8xDOYI/Vq5twHxEluI/AAAAAAAACn8/h6OVt5iwg0A/s640/Slide6.JPG" title="If I Lived in the White House writing activities and other fun Presidents Day activities and ideas" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />If you are learning about Abraham Lincoln or George Washington, a way to integrate it into math is with my place value puzzles. For these, kiddos look at each card, figure out what the number is in base 10 blocks, then color it the color it says to on their sheet... which will reveal a picture of Abraham Lincoln!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BT-NjxjilK4/Vq6wX9ZJfgI/AAAAAAAACow/YVwvLqRqLJ4/s1600/Slide24.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Abraham Lincoln place value puzzle to practice numbers on the 120 chart and other fun Presidents' Day math and literacy activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BT-NjxjilK4/Vq6wX9ZJfgI/AAAAAAAACow/YVwvLqRqLJ4/s640/Slide24.JPG" title="Abraham Lincoln place value puzzle to practice numbers on the 120 chart and other fun Presidents' Day math and literacy activities" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />It's great place value practice! I also made an entire set with JUST numbers for number sense building which is a lot of great practice for finding numbers on a hundred chart.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fnvWTfNtHM4/Vq6wXy6KC3I/AAAAAAAACo4/hpw8expAJ7E/s1600/Slide27.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Abraham Lincoln place value puzzle to practice numbers on the 120 chart and other fun Presidents' Day math and literacy activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fnvWTfNtHM4/Vq6wXy6KC3I/AAAAAAAACo4/hpw8expAJ7E/s640/Slide27.JPG" title="Abraham Lincoln place value puzzle to practice numbers on the 120 chart and other fun Presidents' Day math and literacy activities" width="480" /></a></div><br />You can get this puzzle here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Presidents-Day-1656541?aref=ixzfm8xi">Abraham Lincoln Place Value 100 Chart Puzzle</a><br />Spanish:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Dia-del-Presidente-Rompecabezas-de-Valor-Posicional-Abraham-Lincoln-2319300?aref=sgte4t10">Día del Presidente Rompecabezas de Valor Posicional&nbsp;{Lincoln}</a><br /><br />I also have one for George Washington!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M1R8-ZMg8ug/Vq6wYHx5pKI/AAAAAAAACo0/9-4-GjjqZvg/s1600/Slide23.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="George Washington place value puzzle to practice numbers on the 120 chart and other fun Presidents' Day math and literacy activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M1R8-ZMg8ug/Vq6wYHx5pKI/AAAAAAAACo0/9-4-GjjqZvg/s640/Slide23.JPG" title="George Washington place value puzzle to practice numbers on the 120 chart and other fun Presidents' Day math and literacy activities" width="480" /></a></div><br />You can get this puzzle here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Presidents-Day-1662939">George Washington Place Value 100 Chart Puzzle</a><br />Spanish:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Dia-del-Presidente-Rompecabezas-de-Valor-Posicional-George-Washington-2319286?aref=ps7ao13g&amp;aref=zc5vzqw8">Día del Presidente Rompecabezas de Valor Posicional&nbsp;{Washington}</a><br /><br />Hope you have a ton of February writing and learning fun!!!!<br /><br />You can check out my other monthly writing crafts in these posts:<br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/january-writing-crafts.html">January Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2017/02/march-writing-activities-and-bossy-r-activities.html" target="_blank">March Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2017/04/april-writing-activities-and-fun-spring.html" target="_blank">April Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/12/december-writing-crafts.html">December Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/11/november-writing-crafts.html">November Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/10/october-writing-crafts-for-kids.html">October Writing Crafts</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Follow me&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/themissgiraffe/" target="_blank">on Pinterest</a>&nbsp;for more teaching ideas!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Also - don't forget to join&nbsp;</span><a href="http://eepurl.com/1WAO9" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Miss Giraffe's Class</a><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;so you never miss out on fun ideas and exclusive free stuff from me only for subscribers!</span>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-4423536106176099772016-01-24T15:01:00.001-07:002018-05-16T11:05:37.618-07:00Making a 10 to AddMaking a 10 to Add is a great math strategy to help students mentally add bigger numbers. It's a skill I picked up somewhere along the way in elementary school and have used on a daily basis ever since. I never realized I was composing and decomposing numbers but I've done it all my life and it's so helpful!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PVPIfeXOYgc/VqU8GIYTB-I/AAAAAAAACjc/8Z65HZhgfcM/s1600/Slide13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Make a 10 to Add anchor chart idea for the making a 10 addition strategy.. read this for step by step instructions on how to teach it in fun ways and lots of awesome ideas and resources to do it with!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PVPIfeXOYgc/VqU8GIYTB-I/AAAAAAAACjc/8Z65HZhgfcM/s640/Slide13.JPG" title="Make a 10 to Add anchor chart idea for the making a 10 addition strategy.. read this for step by step instructions on how to teach it in fun ways and lots of awesome ideas and resources to do it with!" width="480" /></a></div><br />That being said, <b>holy moly</b> is it a hard concept for some kids to grasp!<br /><br />If you can guide them there, though, I think it's a great mental math strategy for them to have in their toolkit. So I'm going to try to explain, step by step, how to get them there. :)<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">1) Master all facts within 10, especially making 10</span><br />I wrote a huge blog post recently with a ton of ideas and resources for <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/fact-fluency-in-first-grade.html">how to build students' fact fluency</a>. There's really no way getting around this step - they have to be fluent in their facts to truly use this strategy. If they're not there yet, keep working on it before you attempt the next steps.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">2) Adding to 10</span><br />The next step is that students need to learn how to add one digit numbers to 10.<br /><br />This step is WAY easier because students are pretty quick to realize that they just replace the 0 with the number. It's good to explain why, too, with base 10 blocks. Get out the base 10 blocks and show them a problem like 10 + 4. Show them how 10 has no ones so when you add 4 ones to it, it simply becomes the ones place.<br /><br />A great way to show this is for them to put the numbers on top of the 0s as well. I made some cut and paste activities where they simply paste the number on top of the 0 to replace it.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--VxkMBKBWq0/VqUovJoovxI/AAAAAAAACic/jcgvfka5M8o/s1600/Slide4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Adding 10 to a number worksheets and activities to practice in fun ways" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--VxkMBKBWq0/VqUovJoovxI/AAAAAAAACic/jcgvfka5M8o/s640/Slide4.JPG" title="Adding 10 to a number worksheets and activities to practice in fun ways" width="480" /></a></div><br />Then, to build their automaticity, center games like Rollin' Facts are a great way to practice the skill over and over but in a way they think is just a game. :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XF1mW6YHM9Q/VqUj18rZKUI/AAAAAAAACh4/CYRA5wKOm6I/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Adding 10 to a number games and activities that make adding fun easy and hands on" border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XF1mW6YHM9Q/VqUj18rZKUI/AAAAAAAACh4/CYRA5wKOm6I/s640/Slide1.JPG" title="Adding 10 to a number games and activities that make adding fun easy and hands on" width="640" /></a></div><br />You may remember this game from my fact fluency post because I have it for all the numbers 0-10. It's just an awesome station! They can play it over and over and it's always different. In order to make it a game, you can have students partner up and each roll dice. Whoever made the bigger number gets to circle their number sentence and the person with the most circles when the page is full wins.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UCrYbjBiJGE/VqUj10FsR-I/AAAAAAAACiA/WITHUqBPOmA/s1600/Slide2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Adding 10 to a number dice games and math center activities that make adding fun easy and hands on" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UCrYbjBiJGE/VqUj10FsR-I/AAAAAAAACiA/WITHUqBPOmA/s640/Slide2.JPG" title="Adding 10 to a number dice games and math center activities that make adding fun easy and hands on" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Then, of course I recommend doing worksheets to practice and also to assess. If you're familiar with my math units, you know I give every worksheet in 3 levels: on level (B), below level (A), and challenge level (C). You can always see what level a worksheet is by looking in the star in the upper right corner.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pdo80peeWas/VqUj2NpAlnI/AAAAAAAACiI/CDVwICSKXrU/s1600/Slide3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Adding 10 to a number worksheets that are differentiated so all students can have fun and be successful" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pdo80peeWas/VqUj2NpAlnI/AAAAAAAACiI/CDVwICSKXrU/s640/Slide3.JPG" title="Adding 10 to a number worksheets that are differentiated so all students can have fun and be successful" width="480" /></a></div><br />My worksheets also have the self-assessment at the bottom so they can tell you how <i>they</i> felt they understood the concept - that's a whole other blog post though! :)<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">3) Adding 9 (moving 1 to make 10)</span><br />Woohoo! Now they're ready for a little compensation practice now!<br /><br />I recommend starting with JUST 9 where they take 1 from the number they're adding to 9 to make a 10 and practice that <b>A LOT</b>. A lot a lot a lot.<br /><br />To show them what you mean, use twenty frames and red and yellow counters to demonstrate what exactly you're doing. If you tell them to just move the number, they're going to look at you like you're crazy. :)<br /><br />First, have students take a problem strip. Next, have them build each number <u>in its own ten frame</u> in a different color like this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DfHF4WrCYJg/VqUowEUsxxI/AAAAAAAACiw/ijheFgnPO3M/s1600/Slide5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Making a 10 to Add step by step instructions on how to teach it in fun ways and lots of awesome ideas and resources to do it with!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DfHF4WrCYJg/VqUowEUsxxI/AAAAAAAACiw/ijheFgnPO3M/s640/Slide5.JPG" title="Making a 10 to Add step by step instructions on how to teach it in fun ways and lots of awesome ideas and resources to do it with!" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Then, tell them since adding 10 is so easy, we could make the problem so much easier if we made the 9 into a 10. Show them how you can just move the yellow chip from the second number to the 9 to make it a 10. DO NOT FLIP IT. You want them to be able to see that it's borrowed. Now ask them what the problem is now and guide them that it's now 10+4. Talk about how you borrowed 1 from the 5 and made it a 4 to give it to the 9 to make it a 10. I know it may sound confusing but they'll get it when you show them how you're borrowing from one number to give to another.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TKsxs2OmTVs/VqUoyINKvtI/AAAAAAAACi4/Zy_NMp_uxsE/s1600/Slide6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Adding 9 by moving 1 to make a 10 to make adding easier - great strategy for addition!" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TKsxs2OmTVs/VqUoyINKvtI/AAAAAAAACi4/Zy_NMp_uxsE/s640/Slide6.JPG" title="Adding 9 by moving 1 to make a 10 to make adding easier - great strategy for addition!" width="480" /></a></div><br />Last, have them write the new number sentence at the bottom. Practice with several problem strips until you think they've got it. This is definitely a concept I recommend introducing in small groups rather than whole group so you can watch each child move the piece and "change" the problem.<br /><br />Once you feel like they have it down, give them a worksheet on their level to practice the skill.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eTzY8EF57ow/VqUo0eexZsI/AAAAAAAACjQ/F_V30BzaAx8/s1600/Slide9.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eTzY8EF57ow/VqUo0eexZsI/AAAAAAAACjQ/F_V30BzaAx8/s640/Slide9.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />A lot of them will still need the ten frames at this point. Give them something small like 2 different kinds of beans or any small thing they can use as counters to use with the ten frames at the top of their worksheet. Have them build the problem then physically move one over to make a ten.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DH6_02uoSMI/VqUouxZoleI/AAAAAAAACig/J1I2izWAzIg/s1600/Slide10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to teach the make a 10 to add addition strategy in a lot of fun ways including the adding 9 to a number strategy" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DH6_02uoSMI/VqUouxZoleI/AAAAAAAACig/J1I2izWAzIg/s640/Slide10.JPG" title="How to teach the make a 10 to add addition strategy in a lot of fun ways including the adding 9 to a number strategy" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Then it's time for centers to hopefully have it become a mental math skill for them!<br /><br />For this center, kids simply match the cards that show an original adding 9 problem and the card that moved 1 to make a 10. For example, they would match the 9+6 card to the 10+5 card like this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4IaSQiytfkc/VqUozsGdM6I/AAAAAAAACjI/DWKMSI_DvlE/s1600/Slide8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Adding 9 by making a 10 addition strategy and lots of other fun ways to teach make a 10 to add" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4IaSQiytfkc/VqUozsGdM6I/AAAAAAAACjI/DWKMSI_DvlE/s640/Slide8.JPG" title="Adding 9 by making a 10 addition strategy and lots of other fun ways to teach make a 10 to add" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Then, they write the problem on their recording sheet like this to solidify it:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I2OGYsysvSo/VqUoyyHGFAI/AAAAAAAACjA/pEZBAlF3Z2A/s1600/Slide7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Adding 9 by making a 10 addition strategy and lots of other fun ways to teach make a 10 to add" border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I2OGYsysvSo/VqUoyyHGFAI/AAAAAAAACjA/pEZBAlF3Z2A/s640/Slide7.JPG" title="Adding 9 by making a 10 addition strategy and lots of other fun ways to teach make a 10 to add" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />I also have cut and pastes of course because I do cut and pastes for everything :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5emaa-yCcD0/VqUou5kZUXI/AAAAAAAACik/FcY_ukekCso/s1600/Slide11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Adding 9 by making a 10 addition strategy and lots of other fun ways to teach make a 10 to add" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5emaa-yCcD0/VqUou5kZUXI/AAAAAAAACik/FcY_ukekCso/s640/Slide11.JPG" title="Adding 9 by making a 10 addition strategy and lots of other fun ways to teach make a 10 to add" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />The more practice with this skill they get, the better! It's a really important step in them understanding the mechanics of making a 10 before jumping in to do it with any number so make sure you spend an adequate amount of time on it.<br /><br />The goal is for them to understand <i>what</i>&nbsp;they're doing but also for it to become a <b>mental math</b> strategy. If you ask them 9+5, they should quickly be able to move the 1 in in their head to make it 10+4 and know it's 14 right away because of it.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Okay... so now we're ready for.... [drumroll please]</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">4) Making a 10 to Add!</span><br />First, bring out the twenty frame mat and red and yellow counters again!<br /><br />Remind them about how you borrowed from a number to make a 10 when adding 9. Explain that you can borrow as many as you need to in order to make a 10.<br /><br />Have them take a problem strip and build both numbers <u>in its own frame</u>&nbsp;like this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E6zqwwHQjCI/VqU8bSa5LSI/AAAAAAAACjs/vTm6P2QyMJU/s1600/Slide17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-E6zqwwHQjCI/VqU8bSa5LSI/AAAAAAAACjs/vTm6P2QyMJU/s640/Slide17.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Then ask: <i>how many more do we need to add to 7 to make 10?</i><br />If they know their facts to 10, especially those that make 10, they should be able to tell you that they need 3 because 3 and 7 makes 10. They'll also be able to confirm that visually by seeing that there are 3 spots empty in their top ten frame. If any of your kids need more help with this, review Making 10 (Chapter 3.3 in <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Math-Unit-3-1106145">First Grade Math Unit 3</a>) with them.<br /><br />When they tell you 3, have them <b>slide</b>&nbsp;the yellow counters into the top frame to fill it. Don't flip them so they can see they're borrowed, just like you did with adding 9.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AdAmpfnE96c/VqU8camnerI/AAAAAAAACkA/lBsIHRJiyrw/s1600/Slide18.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to teach making a 10 to add with games, worksheets, and other fun ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AdAmpfnE96c/VqU8camnerI/AAAAAAAACkA/lBsIHRJiyrw/s640/Slide18.JPG" title="How to teach making a 10 to add with games, worksheets, and other fun ideas" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Now ask them what their problem is now. This part is important! They made a 10 so they should be able to tell you that their problem is now 10 + 3 because there is a full ten frame and 3 left over in another ten frame. Keep practicing until all these steps are quick.<br /><br />You can also use other fun things instead of red and yellow counters like fuzzy balls or mini erasers:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sc0ls540FfY/VqU8etwGKaI/AAAAAAAACkQ/forUZS-_p3c/s1600/Slide19.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Read this to learn how to teach Making a 10 to Add which is a great math strategy to help students mentally add bigger numbers!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sc0ls540FfY/VqU8etwGKaI/AAAAAAAACkQ/forUZS-_p3c/s640/Slide19.JPG" title="Read this to learn how to teach Making a 10 to Add which is a great math strategy to help students mentally add bigger numbers!" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Okay so now they're hopefully ready to put it into practice!<br /><br />Show them a problem. Have them look at the first number (in this example: 8) and ask them how many more they need to make 10.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PVPIfeXOYgc/VqU8GIYTB-I/AAAAAAAACjg/Y1UCuq4odYg/s1600/Slide13.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Make a 10 to Add anchor chart idea for the making a 10 addition strategy.. read this for step by step instructions on how to teach it in fun ways and lots of awesome and easy activities and resources to do it with!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PVPIfeXOYgc/VqU8GIYTB-I/AAAAAAAACjg/Y1UCuq4odYg/s640/Slide13.JPG" title="Make a 10 to Add anchor chart idea for the making a 10 addition strategy.. read this for step by step instructions on how to teach it in fun ways and lots of awesome and easy activities and resources to do it with!" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />When they tell you 2, tell them you're going to borrow 2 from the other number to make the first number 10 to make it easy to add. Next, ask them if the number they're borrowing from is 2 or if they'll have numbers leftover, to which hopefully they'll say yes.<br /><br />Draw 2 lines from the number like above and write a 2 under one of the lines. Ask them: "What do you have to add to 2 to get 7?" Again, this is where their <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/fact-fluency-in-first-grade.html">fact fluency</a>&nbsp;from Step 1 becomes really important! They should be able to tell you 5 because 2 and 5 makes 7. You can do this with red and yellow counters for students who are really struggling. Put out 7 red counters and have them flip over 2 so they now have 2 yellow counters and 5 red counters to show how 2 and 5 makes 7.<br /><br />Once they tell you that 2 and 5 make 7, write the 5 at the end of the next line so it now shows 7 is 2 and 5 like above.<br /><br />Circle the 8 and 2 to show that you put them together to make a 10. Point out how the 5 is leftover.<br />So that makes the new problem 10 + 5 = 15.<br /><br />Practice this with them a lot until they get quick at it.<br /><br />I recommend practicing with this center... Make a Ten to Add!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FxY___ZpI-0/VqU8fk0ffJI/AAAAAAAACkY/L2i49UpCJ28/s1600/Slide21.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Easy directions how to teach making a ten to add in first grade as well as fun games and activities you can do to practice in fun ways" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FxY___ZpI-0/VqU8fk0ffJI/AAAAAAAACkY/L2i49UpCJ28/s640/Slide21.JPG" title="Easy directions how to teach making a ten to add in first grade as well as fun games and activities you can do to practice in fun ways" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Laminate the cards and give students dry erase markers. Have them do the steps themselves on the card: Look at the first number and figure out how many more to make 10, break apart the 2nd number to give it that number, circle the 10 they made and add it to the leftover number, write their new addition sentence.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VAX5cqIpBdE/VqU8ds_rW5I/AAAAAAAACkI/ZhqPopNheok/s1600/Slide20.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Easy directions how to teach making a ten to add in first grade" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VAX5cqIpBdE/VqU8ds_rW5I/AAAAAAAACkI/ZhqPopNheok/s640/Slide20.JPG" title="Easy directions how to teach making a ten to add in first grade" width="480" /></a></div><br />When you feel like they are ready to practice independently, give them a worksheet at their level.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hM5hokpgI3U/VqU8lgx7xwI/AAAAAAAAClA/FVqaH_mBIY0/s1600/Slide26.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Addition strategy making a 10 to add is easy with these differentiated worksheets and activities ideas - definitely save this site!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hM5hokpgI3U/VqU8lgx7xwI/AAAAAAAAClA/FVqaH_mBIY0/s640/Slide26.JPG" title="Addition strategy making a 10 to add is easy with these differentiated worksheets and activities ideas - definitely save this site!" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />For your students who need a little bit of extra help, give them the worksheets with ten frames on them and let them use 2 different kinds of something small like mini erasers to help them solve the problems.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sA8y2JX_e0E/VqU8kN-y_QI/AAAAAAAACk4/I7hffJMvJZQ/s1600/Slide25.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Make a 10 to add strategy worksheets that make it so easy even first grade students can do them easily" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sA8y2JX_e0E/VqU8kN-y_QI/AAAAAAAACk4/I7hffJMvJZQ/s640/Slide25.JPG" title="Make a 10 to add strategy worksheets that make it so easy even first grade students can do them easily" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />No matter what level worksheet they do, have them show their work where they decompose the numbers, circle the numbers to compose a 10, etc. so you can see that they're doing the steps.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8TSHNOlYqdk/VqU8mpf_7II/AAAAAAAAClM/J60RsbjSgE0/s1600/Slide27.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Making a 10 to add worksheets and activities and ideas that make this difficult standard actually fun!" border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8TSHNOlYqdk/VqU8mpf_7II/AAAAAAAAClM/J60RsbjSgE0/s320/Slide27.JPG" title="Making a 10 to add worksheets and activities and ideas that make this difficult standard actually fun!" width="240" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rgrtUdfDzR0/VqU8nbEeMfI/AAAAAAAAClQ/5DIqvB1G6zU/s1600/Slide28.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rgrtUdfDzR0/VqU8nbEeMfI/AAAAAAAAClQ/5DIqvB1G6zU/s320/Slide28.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><br />Aaaaand cutting and pasting fun because, well, of course :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IdU56Q2mmfY/VqU99Tm1UjI/AAAAAAAAClg/cFdKIFL8eOM/s1600/Slide16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IdU56Q2mmfY/VqU99Tm1UjI/AAAAAAAAClg/cFdKIFL8eOM/s640/Slide16.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">So this is another way to make 10 to add that is a little bit different than above but is another GREAT strategy!</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mfgvZxa0o6Y/VqU8bU7RIfI/AAAAAAAACj4/BWULuR04WW0/s1600/Slide15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mfgvZxa0o6Y/VqU8bU7RIfI/AAAAAAAACj4/BWULuR04WW0/s640/Slide15.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br />Kids can even use this with bigger numbers as they get older. I personally use this strategy any time I do mental math! For example they could do 54+3 by making tens by turning 54 into 50 then adding 50 + (4+3).<br /><br />Remind students how they know their 10 facts (10+4=14, 10+5=15, etc.) and show them how they already know that 14 is 10 and 4 because 14 is a ten and 4 ones. Then, show them how they can use that to add numbers to 20&nbsp;<i>in their head</i>.<br /><br />Using the whiteboard example I show above... 14 + 2 =<br />Show them how they can break apart 14 into 10 and 4. Then, show them how they have 2 left over so now they have 10 + 4 + 2. Well they know 4 + 2 is 6 because that's a fact they know so then they just have to add 10 and 6 which they know is 16. Easy! Do the circling and all that good stuff like I showed above. I actually think this strategy is easier for them than the other making a ten to add strategy but equally important.<br /><br />I made cards for these too to practice!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zO4mBA_IvEg/VqU8hFEZVHI/AAAAAAAACkk/5O0oGVyZRlA/s1600/Slide22.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zO4mBA_IvEg/VqU8hFEZVHI/AAAAAAAACkk/5O0oGVyZRlA/s640/Slide22.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Do the same thing for these where they use a dry erase marker to write on them to figure out the answer, record on their recording sheet, then wipe off when they're done!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d-1EZ9IK0xg/VqU8h4SyRzI/AAAAAAAACko/6rHKkXizWUM/s1600/Slide23.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-d-1EZ9IK0xg/VqU8h4SyRzI/AAAAAAAACko/6rHKkXizWUM/s640/Slide23.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />As well as a full set of differentiated worksheets of course!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uAS9_idbuBE/VqU8opJSA_I/AAAAAAAAClY/YehaCutvgjM/s1600/Slide29.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uAS9_idbuBE/VqU8opJSA_I/AAAAAAAAClY/YehaCutvgjM/s640/Slide29.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />This is definitely a skill that requires a lot of practice so I recommend having all students start at level A to work with the twenty frames and then have them work their way through the level B worksheets without the support. Give level C to those who need a challenge. Once they get it, this one can become really automatic for some kids.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jNJt_ApkCHw/VqU8i2kpo1I/AAAAAAAACkw/653d7bnDCEI/s1600/Slide24.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jNJt_ApkCHw/VqU8i2kpo1I/AAAAAAAACkw/653d7bnDCEI/s640/Slide24.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Now it's assessment time to see how well they understood!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8rxpTiCbpO4/VqVDSQx-KkI/AAAAAAAACl4/KGzv685DM34/s1600/Slide12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8rxpTiCbpO4/VqVDSQx-KkI/AAAAAAAACl4/KGzv685DM34/s640/Slide12.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">I hope this has helped you feel more confident to teach making a 10 to add!</span><br />If you have any questions, feel free to ask - I'm happy to help! If you want to share what you do to teach this difficult skill in the comments, I'd love that as well! The more we all help each other, the better mathematicians the world will have when these littles grow up :)<br /><br />If you want the activities from this post, you can get EVERYTHING I showed in this post as well as the materials in the fact fluency post I talked about in my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Math-Unit-10-2274116">First Grade Math Unit 10</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Math-Unit-10-2274116"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MK6mTc168uk/VpH3e5miFsI/AAAAAAAACaQ/OuMq2nTKuZA/s320/Slide1.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Math-Unit-10-2274116">First Grade Math Unit 10</a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">Want to read more MATH ideas from me?</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Check out some of these fun posts:</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/07/building-number-sense-in-first-grade.html">Building Number Sense</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/08/place-value-moving-and-new-blog-design.html" target="_blank">Place Value</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/02/telling-time.html" target="_blank">Telling Time</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/03/fractions-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">Fractions</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/12/adding-3-numbers.html" target="_blank">Adding 3 Numbers</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/fact-fluency-in-first-grade.html">Fact Fluency</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/02/teaching-money.html">Money</a>&nbsp;(available in U.S., Australian, Canadian, and U.K. coins!)</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/09/graphing-and-data-analysis-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">Graphing and Data</a></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Follow me&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/themissgiraffe" target="_blank">on Pinterest</a>&nbsp;for more teaching ideas! Also, feel free to pin this or any of the other example pictures from this post to save for later!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KIntYrESqlk/WvxySoG5COI/AAAAAAAAG2c/GSiosqdh04sROXiow4Qp8eVyerN2A9PfgCLcBGAs/s1600/Make%2Ba%2B10%2Bto%2Badd%2Bstrategy%2Baddition%2Bhow%2Bto%2Bteach.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Have to teach the make a ten addition strategy? Easy step by step instructions for how to make this math concept fun with games and math centers and worksheets kids enjoy and actually understand! Save this post - it is super helpful!" border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="576" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KIntYrESqlk/WvxySoG5COI/AAAAAAAAG2c/GSiosqdh04sROXiow4Qp8eVyerN2A9PfgCLcBGAs/s640/Make%2Ba%2B10%2Bto%2Badd%2Bstrategy%2Baddition%2Bhow%2Bto%2Bteach.PNG" title="Have to teach the make a ten addition strategy? Easy step by step instructions for how to make this math concept fun with games and math centers and worksheets kids enjoy and actually understand! Save this post - it is super helpful!" width="426" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Also - don't forget to join&nbsp;<a href="http://eepurl.com/1WAO9" target="_blank">Miss Giraffe's Class</a>&nbsp;so you never miss out on fun ideas and exclusive free stuff from me only for subscribers!</span><br /><br /><br />Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-25250615956615786982016-01-17T10:16:00.003-07:002017-12-20T13:00:33.991-07:00January Writing CraftsJanuary writing is a ton of fun - penguins, polar bears, and snow - oh my! :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8KrQc0c4Heg/VpqIy9MfMnI/AAAAAAAACcg/3dQrjIrRVtI/s1600/Slide4.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8KrQc0c4Heg/VpqIy9MfMnI/AAAAAAAACcg/3dQrjIrRVtI/s640/Slide4.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />So it's just not winter without learning about penguins.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SXLVHPkIkOU/VpqQSmrXs9I/AAAAAAAACfY/ikASlujP-O8/s1600/Slide9.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Penguins writing craft that's no prep - kids write about penguins, color, cut, and glue for a perfect winter bulletin board" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SXLVHPkIkOU/VpqQSmrXs9I/AAAAAAAACfY/ikASlujP-O8/s640/Slide9.PNG" title="Penguins writing craft that's no prep - kids write about penguins, color, cut, and glue for a perfect winter bulletin board" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I LOVE learning about winter animals. Polar bears are also a ton of fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lo5pYNOWxRE/VpqMGTWt0yI/AAAAAAAACcw/UliSmlG25aQ/s1600/Slide12.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Polar bears writing craft that's no prep - kids write about penguins, color, cut, and glue for a perfect winter bulletin board" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lo5pYNOWxRE/VpqMGTWt0yI/AAAAAAAACcw/UliSmlG25aQ/s640/Slide12.PNG" title="Polar bears writing craft that's no prep - kids write about penguins, color, cut, and glue for a perfect winter bulletin board" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These are great for students to practice nonfiction writing and show what they've learned about penguins and polar bears. You could also have them compare and contrast penguins and polar bears and write about each OR make it an opinion writing activity where you ask them which of the 2 animals is better or which is their favorite and have them write their opinion.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also like to throw in some creative writing, too, because kids just love winter animals and can write such imaginative stories about them for some reason!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I think imagining they had a penguin or a polar bear for a pet is always a fun activity! It's a good one to brainstorm together on the carpet - what would you and your penguin do? What would his/her name be? Would you bring them to school?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cb9ICJ6Q1gs/VpqMvVNmKXI/AAAAAAAACdQ/ZlijX62CJrk/s1600/Slide15.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cb9ICJ6Q1gs/VpqMvVNmKXI/AAAAAAAACdQ/ZlijX62CJrk/s640/Slide15.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d-PtXrP-rjc/VpqMJbqvtkI/AAAAAAAACc8/fWW9GdFtCH4/s1600/Slide13.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d-PtXrP-rjc/VpqMJbqvtkI/AAAAAAAACc8/fWW9GdFtCH4/s640/Slide13.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZScepRNgs9o/VpqMytlwRcI/AAAAAAAACdY/U5kKvEONhw4/s1600/Slide18.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZScepRNgs9o/VpqMytlwRcI/AAAAAAAACdY/U5kKvEONhw4/s640/Slide18.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of creative writing, there is just a ton of creative writing you can do for winter time!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One of my favorite writing prompts is "If it Snowed Ice Cream" because I mean, how awesome would that be? Creative writing is great for practicing sequential writing - first, I would... next, I would... then, I would.. last, I would.. or whatever sequencing words you teach.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bnFN6LVzvOU/VpqNaMUnjBI/AAAAAAAACdk/oOe6LXfX8FU/s1600/Slide20.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bnFN6LVzvOU/VpqNaMUnjBI/AAAAAAAACdk/oOe6LXfX8FU/s640/Slide20.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What if they lived in an igloo? This is a great time to talk about different homes people around the world live in. You can do great comparing activities of what it'd be like to live in an igloo vs. a house. Then, they can write about what it'd be like if they lived in an igloo!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBBA7r1GxD4/VpqOGy4R03I/AAAAAAAACeI/3lVdkF0FeBk/s1600/Slide23.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="If I Lived in an Igloo writing craft and other super fun winter writing activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBBA7r1GxD4/VpqOGy4R03I/AAAAAAAACeI/3lVdkF0FeBk/s640/Slide23.PNG" title="If I Lived in an Igloo writing craft and other super fun winter writing activities" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Or what if a snowman came to school?? That's another fun writing prompt that gets students' imaginations going.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tLx6ptduWWU/VpqNb35999I/AAAAAAAACdw/D8tDyYZU9oI/s1600/Slide21.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tLx6ptduWWU/VpqNb35999I/AAAAAAAACdw/D8tDyYZU9oI/s640/Slide21.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For more snowman fun, they can practice how to writing by explaining how to build a snowman.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cvLJdMPo0v8/VpqMtD2P-iI/AAAAAAAACdI/4MgyHkLKLqs/s1600/Slide14.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to build a snowman winter writing activity craft perfect for how to writing practice in January" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cvLJdMPo0v8/VpqMtD2P-iI/AAAAAAAACdI/4MgyHkLKLqs/s640/Slide14.PNG" title="How to build a snowman winter writing activity craft perfect for how to writing practice in January" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another fun how to writing prompt is how to make hot cocoa!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d09jgjP9ghw/VpqPOxIEZTI/AAAAAAAACes/kgbm2gy1qEY/s1600/Slide29.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to make hot cocoa winter writing activity craft perfect for how to writing practice in January" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d09jgjP9ghw/VpqPOxIEZTI/AAAAAAAACes/kgbm2gy1qEY/s640/Slide29.PNG" title="How to make hot cocoa winter writing activity craft perfect for how to writing practice in January" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I also make other simple prompts like how to ski, how to ice skate, etc. in case there is extra time in the day and you want to just do a quick writing activity. You can always just give them the sheet of these to write and color and skip the cutting and gluing part if you want to just give a quick write type activity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N87adAiK__s/VpqOwRy_CJI/AAAAAAAACeg/3ofAphkHtUA/s1600/Slide26.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N87adAiK__s/VpqOwRy_CJI/AAAAAAAACeg/3ofAphkHtUA/s320/Slide26.PNG" width="240" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fUFLEE6e1cE/VpqOwkl7uyI/AAAAAAAACek/c6D2xcGxUng/s1600/Slide27.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fUFLEE6e1cE/VpqOwkl7uyI/AAAAAAAACek/c6D2xcGxUng/s320/Slide27.PNG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I don't know if you've met Oliver from any of my other packs but this is Oliver the owl and he is quite a cutie! He does a lot of little adventures so this one is about Oliver getting a snow day at school and what he does. I think it's fun to have a character who pops up for various holidays and moments so kids feel a connection to him and what they're writing about. I recommend a cute owl stuffed animal who looks like him named Oliver to have in the classroom to let students who are writing quietly and focused hold him while they write. It's an awesome classroom management trick that's easy - if you see someone working really hard on their writing, put Oliver on their desk. They know they get to cuddle with him for a few minutes and when you come back to their desk, they know to give Oliver a hug and hand him back to you - when you see someone else working really hard, they get him next! Talk about some focused writers you'll have :)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i9Z16Lf-vJg/VpqOm6OwmDI/AAAAAAAACeU/w4txQ2jMiNg/s1600/Slide25.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i9Z16Lf-vJg/VpqOm6OwmDI/AAAAAAAACeU/w4txQ2jMiNg/s640/Slide25.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Another fun one is writing about magic mittens. Bring in a pair of mittens and say you found them and THEY'RE MAGIC. When I put on <i>my</i>&nbsp;magic mittens, I can talk to animals.&nbsp;Oooh. Ahhh. Have them pretend they found a pair of magic mittens on the ground and think about what happens when <i>they</i> put <i>their</i> magic mittens on. What do theirs do? Can you tell I love creative writing?&nbsp;</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5sQohe9vJ3g/VpqN_O32OoI/AAAAAAAACd8/KVv0NWjcVW4/s1600/Slide22.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5sQohe9vJ3g/VpqN_O32OoI/AAAAAAAACd8/KVv0NWjcVW4/s640/Slide22.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Just a few more... writing about snowflakes or what you learned about hibernation...</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UhtFPOesuAE/VpqQI2mlftI/AAAAAAAACfQ/eCJebLWQj5I/s1600/Slide7.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hibernation writing activity that's a perfect no prep craft for winter" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UhtFPOesuAE/VpqQI2mlftI/AAAAAAAACfQ/eCJebLWQj5I/s640/Slide7.PNG" title="Hibernation writing activity that's a perfect no prep craft for winter" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bl0Gm75w3YY/VpqOHSlkmlI/AAAAAAAACeM/5fE8h7nOSM8/s1600/Slide24.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Bl0Gm75w3YY/VpqOHSlkmlI/AAAAAAAACeM/5fE8h7nOSM8/s640/Slide24.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">You can grab ALL of these crafts I showed above in my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Winter-Writing-2303861">Winter Writing Crafts Bundle</a>!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Some of them like the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Penguins-2303864">Penguins</a>, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Polar-Bears-2303865">Polar Bears</a>, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/How-to-Build-a-Snowman-2307318">How to Build a Snowman</a>, and <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Hibernation-2307313">Hibernation</a> I also have separately but it's a way better deal to get the bundle :)&nbsp;</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7AfBZwkVnYc/VpqNccZz72I/AAAAAAAACd0/My4T1GCzrfA/s1600/Slide2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7AfBZwkVnYc/VpqNccZz72I/AAAAAAAACd0/My4T1GCzrfA/s640/Slide2.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also made some of these crafts in Spanish too!!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Pingueinos-NO-PREP-Writing-Craft-2307269">Pinguinos / Pingüinos Writing Craft</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-He3520JxoU4/VprObNBx5EI/AAAAAAAACgs/UHcC2X0ZFRU/s1600/Spanish%2BPinguinos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-He3520JxoU4/VprObNBx5EI/AAAAAAAACgs/UHcC2X0ZFRU/s640/Spanish%2BPinguinos.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Osos-Polares-NO-PREP-Writing-Craft-2307264">Osos Polares Writing Craft</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-15hd7-xi0lY/VprOavspejI/AAAAAAAACgc/Xhj6oETE2dk/s1600/Spanish%2BOsos%2BPolares.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-15hd7-xi0lY/VprOavspejI/AAAAAAAACgc/Xhj6oETE2dk/s640/Spanish%2BOsos%2BPolares.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Como-hacer-un-muneco-de-nieve-NO-PREP-Writing-Craft-2307238">Cómo hacer un muñeco de nieve</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EkGPhSoOK2c/VprOV6reZ_I/AAAAAAAACgM/e9IEWRoA6mo/s1600/Spanish%2BComo%2BHacer%2Bun%2BMuneco%2Bde%2BNieve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EkGPhSoOK2c/VprOV6reZ_I/AAAAAAAACgM/e9IEWRoA6mo/s640/Spanish%2BComo%2BHacer%2Bun%2BMuneco%2Bde%2BNieve.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Como-hacer-chocolate-caliente-NO-PREP-Writing-Craft-2307261">Cómo hacer chocolate caliente</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jOGTZgb1TCI/VprOVP8_7rI/AAAAAAAACgE/PkdDaEa5MqY/s1600/Spanish%2BComo%2BHacer%2BChocolate%2BCaliente%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jOGTZgb1TCI/VprOVP8_7rI/AAAAAAAACgE/PkdDaEa5MqY/s640/Spanish%2BComo%2BHacer%2BChocolate%2BCaliente%2B2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Invierno-NO-PREP-Writing-Craft-2307253">Invierno Writing Craft</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MmiN7WZ8WLE/VprOZypx12I/AAAAAAAACgg/8Ts922AY3Bk/s1600/Spanish%2BInvierno.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MmiN7WZ8WLE/VprOZypx12I/AAAAAAAACgg/8Ts922AY3Bk/s640/Spanish%2BInvierno.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Hibernacion-NO-PREP-Writing-Craft-2307222">Hibernación</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JQbDrxAn2Ro/VprOW0XbQ2I/AAAAAAAACgU/ZFF_MZpsGto/s1600/Spanish%2BHibernacion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JQbDrxAn2Ro/VprOW0XbQ2I/AAAAAAAACgU/ZFF_MZpsGto/s640/Spanish%2BHibernacion.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">Follow me&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/themissgiraffe" target="_blank">on Pinterest</a>&nbsp;for more teaching ideas!</span><br /><br />Hope you have a ton of January and winter learning fun!!!!<br /><br />You can check out my other monthly writing crafts in these posts:<br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/february-writing-prompts.html" target="_blank">February Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2017/02/march-writing-activities-and-bossy-r-activities.html" target="_blank">March Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2017/04/april-writing-activities-and-fun-spring.html" target="_blank">April Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/12/december-writing-crafts.html">December Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/11/november-writing-crafts.html">November Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/10/october-writing-crafts-for-kids.html">October Writing Crafts</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Also - don't forget to join&nbsp;</span><a href="http://eepurl.com/1WAO9" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Miss Giraffe's Class</a><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;so you never miss out on fun ideas and exclusive free stuff from me only for subscribers!</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-21528066078271140732016-01-10T13:05:00.001-07:002016-11-07T16:50:12.827-07:00Fact Fluency in First GradeFact fluency is a big part of math in first grade. You may be thinking, "How in the world am I going to teach these kiddos ALL these facts with <i>fluency</i> when I literally just taught them <i>how</i>&nbsp;to add?!" First graders are usually expected to master all facts to 10 with fluency by the end of first grade so I wanted to share a bunch of tips and activities to help you help them get there!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4acARD1-jHY/VpHVf7d61kI/AAAAAAAACXs/8NW25-d89Zg/s1600/Fact%2BFluency%2BALL%2Bcloser.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4acARD1-jHY/VpHVf7d61kI/AAAAAAAACXs/8NW25-d89Zg/s640/Fact%2BFluency%2BALL%2Bcloser.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><br />To develop fact fluency, I think the best thing to do is just a ton of exposure and practice. Dice is always a GREAT way to practice adding that kids always enjoy.<br /><br />An awesome game you can play is DICE WAR.<br />Have students partner up and take turns rolling 2 dice (or use 4 dice and have them roll at the same time) and adding it together. Then, they each write their addition sentence they made on a whiteboard or scratch paper. If their sum was bigger than their partner's, they get to circle it and win that round. Whoever has the most circles when they're done wins. :) I think it's great to have them keep score on the side with tallies which is great real world tally practice as well!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A0RYZyMdStM/VpHYtQZWj2I/AAAAAAAACZ4/RcbgTL_NrEg/s1600/War%2BDice.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fact fluency games and activities - read this post for a ton of helpful math tips" border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A0RYZyMdStM/VpHYtQZWj2I/AAAAAAAACZ4/RcbgTL_NrEg/s640/War%2BDice.PNG" title="Fact fluency games and activities - read this post for a ton of helpful math tips" width="640" /></a></div><br />I also love this game with playing cards!<br />Students take turns drawing 2 cards at the same time, add them up, and the person with the bigger sum keeps all 4 cards. If they're the same sum, all cards stay out and they each draw 2 more cards - whoever wins that gets all those cards.. basically like regular War but each person does 2 cards at a time. You can have them write their number sentences like with the dice game if you want but it's not necessary. Make sure you take out all the face cards. You can easily differentiate by taking out the higher numbers so they only do sums to certain amounts.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CcwXskNQr6E/VpHYyLaffoI/AAAAAAAACaA/TTRiPRtT7qA/s1600/War%2BPlaying%2BCards.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CcwXskNQr6E/VpHYyLaffoI/AAAAAAAACaA/TTRiPRtT7qA/s640/War%2BPlaying%2BCards.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />You can also play this game with dominoes! Have them put all the dominoes upside down and each take one and flip it at the same time, add up the dots on each side, and the person with the biggest sum keeps both dominoes. Person with the most dominoes when they're all gone wins!<br /><br />Speaking of dominoes, another awesome game I love is COVER ME UP!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6HCO6G6fes/VpHUuRURDfI/AAAAAAAACXU/Q6U8vAoSpOM/s1600/Cover%2BMe%2BUp%2Bcloser.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6HCO6G6fes/VpHUuRURDfI/AAAAAAAACXU/Q6U8vAoSpOM/s640/Cover%2BMe%2BUp%2Bcloser.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><br />For this game, each kid gets a gameboard. Use double-six dominoes and take out any that have sums bigger than 10 (6 and 6). Students start by turning all the dominoes upside down. Then, they take turns drawing dominoes and covering the sum it makes on their board. If there isn't a space they can put it on, it goes back in the pile and they swish around the pile to mix it in. The first person to cover their entire board wins!<br /><br />Games like all the ones I mentioned above are a great way for students to practice adding without realizing they are. The more they do the same problems over and over (2+3), the more they'll start to memorize them. You want to stay away from manipulatives and hopefully you'll see less and less fingers. That's why I recommend them writing down the problem each time on a whiteboard or scratch paper so they don't just get the answer and move on... writing it down cements it a little more. :)<br /><br />I also think flash cards can help a ton!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4qEmy5aKMMo/VpHXQl6OudI/AAAAAAAACYs/sLDMX3vNO-Y/s1600/Facts%2Bon%2BRings%2Bh.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4qEmy5aKMMo/VpHXQl6OudI/AAAAAAAACYs/sLDMX3vNO-Y/s640/Facts%2Bon%2BRings%2Bh.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I recommend putting them on a ring! If you keep them on a ring in your classroom, students can just grab the set to practice at their seat and none get lost! And what doesn't get lost in the first grade classroom vortex? Things on rings, that's what! :)<br /><br />I like to put them on binder rings by number. For example, all of the 3s facts are green and on their own ring.&nbsp;If you're fortunate and have parents who will help, send them home for practice!&nbsp;Only doing 1 set at a time makes it a little more manageable (and less scary) for students <i>and</i> parents. When they master a ring, they send it back to school and take home the next ring. For example, when they master the 3s, they bring them back to you and you give them the ring of 4s.<br /><br />Another option is fluency baggies!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LlU07pHwqY4/VpHXYszUumI/AAAAAAAACZA/0mw0eDDMFUw/s1600/Fact%2BFluency%2BFlash%2BCards.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LlU07pHwqY4/VpHXYszUumI/AAAAAAAACZA/0mw0eDDMFUw/s640/Fact%2BFluency%2BFlash%2BCards.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><br />When students know a fact immediately without hesitation, it goes in their "Fluent Facts" bag and the ones they're still working on go in their "Study Stack."<br /><br />Once you feel like they've started to master facts, you can do little fact assessments by number. I print each number's test on a different color paper so it's easy to keep track of.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qiR6ZTImSQA/VpK0lx7g7YI/AAAAAAAACag/e4BGICaMaUk/s1600/Slide43.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qiR6ZTImSQA/VpK0lx7g7YI/AAAAAAAACag/e4BGICaMaUk/s640/Slide43.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><br />It's up to you if you want to do them as an entire class or if you want students to work at their own pace. I made 3 levels of each test -- the bigger the paper, the more challenging. So everyone starts on the 3 to a page sheets then moves on to the half page sheets then the full page sheet.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-inv1CmM5m6k/VpHXW_j12XI/AAAAAAAACY8/O3qno8YhiYE/s1600/Fact%2BFluency%2BLevels.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-inv1CmM5m6k/VpHXW_j12XI/AAAAAAAACY8/O3qno8YhiYE/s640/Fact%2BFluency%2BLevels.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><br />I made 3 levels for each number with sums to 10 (bottom row of above picture), 3 levels for each number with sums to 20 (top row of above picture), and 2 levels of subtraction within 10 for each number (not pictured). I should've used a bigger number as an example so you could see the sums to 20 but I think you get the point. :) There are 79 different practice tests/sheets like this so it's a ton of practice!<br /><br />Real quick - if you do these at their own pace, I <i>really </i>recommend <i>not </i>having 100% scores be public/hung up/announced, doing awards, or publicly displaying kids' progress. The kids who are rocking it already know they are and don't need any more motivation than you saying, "Great job!" but the kids who are struggling also know that very well and you want to be careful not to embarrass them. I know we want to encourage kids to practice but some kids really struggle with memorizing facts and just need a ton of time/exposure. Celebrating the other kids with fun things for reaching goals may seem awesome but the kids who really need the motivation realize they are not being celebrated and it might hurt their confidence, give them test anxiety, etc.<br /><br />Anyway!! On to the fun stuff!!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oiFjeb69OdA/VpHUvrVxZNI/AAAAAAAACXY/eYPYA9qTBR8/s1600/Amazing%2BFluency.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oiFjeb69OdA/VpHUvrVxZNI/AAAAAAAACXY/eYPYA9qTBR8/s640/Amazing%2BFluency.PNG" width="480" /></a></div>A-maze-ing Fluency is one of my favorite fluency activities. I made them for several different numbers - this one is for 7. So kids look at the problem in each box and if the sum is 7, they color it in to get to the end of the maze in the opposite corner! You can easily put this in a sheet protector and have them use a dry erase marker to make it a reusable center.<br /><br />Another fun one is "Circle the..." where they get a word search style puzzle with numbers. Each sheet focuses on a different sum (in this case, also 7) and they circle all of the numbers next to each other that make that sum to find as many as they can!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EyIW8Ss3qNM/VpHUuFZeorI/AAAAAAAACXQ/yUTZ8aR6I_I/s1600/Circle%2Bthe%2B7s.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EyIW8Ss3qNM/VpHUuFZeorI/AAAAAAAACXQ/yUTZ8aR6I_I/s640/Circle%2Bthe%2B7s.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As usual, I made a bunch of various cut and pastes :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AxDjoQiN-tc/VpHWwo1IYSI/AAAAAAAACYk/7hnNYEPT8aQ/s1600/Fact%2BFluency%2BCut%2Band%2BPastes.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AxDjoQiN-tc/VpHWwo1IYSI/AAAAAAAACYk/7hnNYEPT8aQ/s640/Fact%2BFluency%2BCut%2Band%2BPastes.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love cut and pastes because they're essentially worksheets that require a ton of computation but they are hands on and kids enjoy them. It's also nice that they're self checking because if they don't fill in all the boxes or have too many for a number, they know they made a mistake and need to figure out which one it was. I think kids are more careful with them, too, because they see glue as oh so permanent. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-haSCicRcgWc/VpK1xshG7rI/AAAAAAAACa4/g-W_QoPMVZE/s1600/Slide38.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-haSCicRcgWc/VpK1xshG7rI/AAAAAAAACa4/g-W_QoPMVZE/s640/Slide38.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can also make them into <b>reusable centers</b> by laminating them and using velcro! I LOVE doing this for cut and pastes because it makes it even more hands-on, doesn't waste paper, and you can use them over and over.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I print each cut and paste worksheet onto 2 different colors of paper and laminate them. Then, I cut the answers off of ONE of them and put velcro on the backs of them like this:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G_Vbjn8gkOc/VpK1Prk7qSI/AAAAAAAACa0/rMBVxTCVEJ8/s1600/Slide37.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G_Vbjn8gkOc/VpK1Prk7qSI/AAAAAAAACa0/rMBVxTCVEJ8/s640/Slide37.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I buy the rolls of velcro and just cut little strips to put on the back. Notice the strips on the right side of the above picture - you just cut them to the size you need. They're awesome - you just peel the sticker off the back and stick them on. I do the scratchy side on the back of the answers. Then, I put the soft velcro side where they'd put the answers AND on top of the same answer in the answer bank. That way, when they're done, they can put all the answers back in the bank and it makes it super easy to keep track of the pieces because they're stuck on there and not in a baggie or something. It's one less thing to keep track of and keeps it really organized.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g3uW4wmsppc/VpK1Ql6uB0I/AAAAAAAACaw/YCRJaMZfiSg/s1600/Slide39.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to make cut and pastes into reusable centers! So many great math ideas and activities!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g3uW4wmsppc/VpK1Ql6uB0I/AAAAAAAACaw/YCRJaMZfiSg/s640/Slide39.PNG" title="How to make cut and pastes into reusable centers! So many great math ideas and activities!" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">As you can see above, you can still see the number in the answer bank under the velcro so it's easy for kids to put them back when they're done and know you have all the right pieces for that center. I am seriously obsessed with doing this for cut and paste activities - it makes it 3D too the way the numbers pop up which kids love and they can move them all around until it makes sense and is correct.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">One more fun game I want to show (it's always hard to choose!) is Rollin' Facts.. I made one for each number so each one is practicing fluency for that number. These are great to do for practice before/after the tests.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6b_JuC49eTs/VpHYX0RyxbI/AAAAAAAACZo/rWhDAFY_UaQ/s1600/Rolling%2BFacts%2Bh.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6b_JuC49eTs/VpHYX0RyxbI/AAAAAAAACZo/rWhDAFY_UaQ/s640/Rolling%2BFacts%2Bh.PNG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">So this one focuses on 4s facts for example. They roll the dice and add it to 4. So every time they roll the dice, they are practicing their 4s facts. Like I said, there's one for each number so they can practice them all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And of course there are puzzles. You know me by now if you've read my other math concept blog posts that I love puzzles and make them for everything.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TGcxke6bCjs/VpHYXgUMcgI/AAAAAAAACZk/U3yKoI5630E/s1600/Fluency%2BPuzzles%2Bv.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TGcxke6bCjs/VpHYXgUMcgI/AAAAAAAACZk/U3yKoI5630E/s640/Fluency%2BPuzzles%2Bv.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope you can use some of these ideas to help your students build fact fluency!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'd love to know how YOU practice fact fluency in your classroom - tell me in the comments! :)&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">All of these activities are in my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Math-Unit-10-2274116">First Grade Math Unit 10</a>... and that's just ONE concept of four included in the unit. It also covers Adding 10 (10+3, 10+4, etc.), Adding 9 (moving 1 to make a 10), and making a 10 to add which I also blogged about here: <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/making-10-to-add.html">Making 10 to Add</a>!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MK6mTc168uk/VpH3e5miFsI/AAAAAAAACaM/bfpdQPXkaVk/s1600/Slide1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MK6mTc168uk/VpH3e5miFsI/AAAAAAAACaM/bfpdQPXkaVk/s400/Slide1.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/First-Grade-Math-Unit-10-2274116"><span style="font-size: large;">First Grade Math Unit 10</span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">I also have a <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Multiplication-Fact-Fluency-2nd-Grade-Math-Unit-18-2866606" target="_blank">Multiplication Fact Fluency Unit</a> like this!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Want to read more MATH ideas from me?</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Check out these fun posts:</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/07/building-number-sense-in-first-grade.html">Building Number Sense</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/08/place-value-moving-and-new-blog-design.html" target="_blank">Place Value</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/02/telling-time.html" target="_blank">Telling Time</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/03/fractions-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">Fractions</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/12/adding-3-numbers.html" target="_blank">Adding 3 Numbers</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/02/teaching-money.html">Money</a>&nbsp;(also available in U.S., Australian, Canadian, and U.K. coins)</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/04/composing-shapes-in-1st-grade.html" target="_blank">Composing Shapes</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/making-10-to-add.html">Making a 10 to Add</a></span><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/07/how-to-teach-arrays.html" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Arrays</span></a><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/09/graphing-and-data-analysis-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Graphing and Data</span></a></span>&nbsp;</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Follow me&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/themissgiraffe" target="_blank">on Pinterest</a>&nbsp;for more teaching ideas!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Don't forget to join&nbsp;<a href="http://eepurl.com/1WAO9" target="_blank">Miss Giraffe's Class</a>&nbsp;so you never miss out on fun ideas and exclusive free stuff from me only for subscribers!</span>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-66065703990072453562015-12-06T16:49:00.002-07:002017-11-25T09:11:37.174-07:00December Writing CraftsDecember is one of my favorite months for writing because kids get SO creative when Santa Claus is involved. :)<br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N10sURZ_L5A/VmPMbhZTn2I/AAAAAAAACNg/IAJNecr-3eA/s1600/Christmas%2BAll%2Bh%2B2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="December writing crafts perfect for Christmas crafts and writing fun" border="0" height="482" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-N10sURZ_L5A/VmPMbhZTn2I/AAAAAAAACNg/IAJNecr-3eA/s640/Christmas%2BAll%2Bh%2B2.png" title="December writing crafts perfect for Christmas crafts and writing fun" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Of course you write letters to Santa or about what you want for Christmas but I LOVE writing prompts that make kids laugh and think a little bit. One of my favorite prompts is "If Santa Rode the Bus" - you will get some seriously funny answers!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E3J8fSMniGs/VmPQzYZei2I/AAAAAAAACPc/iv5QD04lQbk/s1600/Christmas%2BSanta%2BRode%2Bthe%2BBus.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="December Writing Crafts that are so much fun - perfect no prep Christmas crafts!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E3J8fSMniGs/VmPQzYZei2I/AAAAAAAACPc/iv5QD04lQbk/s640/Christmas%2BSanta%2BRode%2Bthe%2BBus.PNG" title="December Writing Crafts that are so much fun - perfect no prep Christmas crafts!" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another prompt you'll get a lot of funny responses from is "If Santa Got Stuck" - ask your students what they think would happen if Santa got stuck in the chimney!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e2OmZOunDHk/VmPQ6IavouI/AAAAAAAACPo/1WfKkM0q0QI/s1600/Christmas%2BSanta%2BStuck.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Check out all these fun December writing prompts for Christmas and winter!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-e2OmZOunDHk/VmPQ6IavouI/AAAAAAAACPo/1WfKkM0q0QI/s640/Christmas%2BSanta%2BStuck.PNG" title="Check out all these fun December writing prompts for Christmas and winter!" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Maybe the reindeer would help pull him out? Maybe his elves would come save him?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of elves...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OzS-Gg6jHPM/VmPPjeZQveI/AAAAAAAACOw/uSO2Wn_f6-s/s1600/Christmas%2BElf%2BWriting%2Bv.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Elf writing activities and crafts that are so much fun for December" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OzS-Gg6jHPM/VmPPjeZQveI/AAAAAAAACOw/uSO2Wn_f6-s/s640/Christmas%2BElf%2BWriting%2Bv.PNG" title="Elf writing activities and crafts that are so much fun for December" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know a lot of you have classroom elves that play silly pranks on your class in December. If you do, I created a craft for you to have your students write about your class elf.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UUl_t_15_dw/VmPQRftwgTI/AAAAAAAACPQ/F8O5-qP_wRQ/s1600/Christmas%2BOur%2BClass%2BElf.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Elf writing activities and crafts that are so much fun for December" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UUl_t_15_dw/VmPQRftwgTI/AAAAAAAACPQ/F8O5-qP_wRQ/s640/Christmas%2BOur%2BClass%2BElf.PNG" title="Elf writing activities and crafts that are so much fun for December" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another fun activity is to have students write about what THEY would do if they were elves. I include a boy version and a girl version so kiddos can color it to look like themselves. If you alternate red and green paper like this, it makes SUCH a cute bulletin board!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HxE9tWnZHAY/VmPO-Xet2-I/AAAAAAAACOg/D1UZ9yNXSGE/s1600/Christmas%2BElf%2BWriting%2Bh.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Elf writing activities and crafts that are so much fun for December" border="0" height="486" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HxE9tWnZHAY/VmPO-Xet2-I/AAAAAAAACOg/D1UZ9yNXSGE/s640/Christmas%2BElf%2BWriting%2Bh.png" title="Elf writing activities and crafts that are so much fun for December" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you may have read in my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/11/november-writing-crafts.html" target="_blank">November Writing Crafts</a> post, I like to use fun holidays or themes to practice the different writing genres like how to writing, opinion writing, etc. For some fun HOW TO writing, you can write about how to decorate a Christmas tree or how to wrap a present. They're things kids know how to do so the writing should come naturally, allowing you to help them focus on the structure of the writing (first, next, last, etc.)&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-22Qw_-S-RmY/VmPO02EBEYI/AAAAAAAACOM/QFApSX04RrY/s1600/Christmas%2BDecorating%2BTree.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to decorate the tree writing craft and other great December writing prompts and activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-22Qw_-S-RmY/VmPO02EBEYI/AAAAAAAACOM/QFApSX04RrY/s640/Christmas%2BDecorating%2BTree.PNG" title="How to decorate the tree writing craft and other great December writing prompts and activities" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b_GWpqxwMLQ/VmPQCNniv9I/AAAAAAAACPA/Fu55xpoHrdo/s1600/Christmas%2BHow%2Bto%2BWrap%2Ba%2BPresent.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to wrap a present craft and other great December writing prompts and activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b_GWpqxwMLQ/VmPQCNniv9I/AAAAAAAACPA/Fu55xpoHrdo/s640/Christmas%2BHow%2Bto%2BWrap%2Ba%2BPresent.PNG" title="How to wrap a present craft and other great December writing prompts and activities" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My personal favorite holiday how to, though, is How to be on the Nice List. It's a GREAT activity to review <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/01/how-to-tackle-tattling-in-classroom.html" target="_blank">making good choices</a>. You can make it a great whole group lesson and brainstorm ideas on how to get on the nice list. A super fun anchor chart is to draw a line down the middle of the chart and write "Naughty List" and "Nice List" on either side and have them help you fill it in!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZlN2a2I1rPc/VmPOEy3ltMI/AAAAAAAACN4/oqx3y3IlBe4/s1600/Christmas%2BAll%2Bv%2B%25282%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZlN2a2I1rPc/VmPOEy3ltMI/AAAAAAAACN4/oqx3y3IlBe4/s640/Christmas%2BAll%2Bv%2B%25282%2529.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For opinion writing, have students write about THE BEST PRESENT. It could be the best present they ever received or maybe what <i>would</i>&nbsp;be the best present to receive.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NusleFMlgL8/VmPO1-98NMI/AAAAAAAACOU/CoOaqEseSe0/s1600/Christmas%2BBest%2BPresent.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NusleFMlgL8/VmPO1-98NMI/AAAAAAAACOU/CoOaqEseSe0/s640/Christmas%2BBest%2BPresent.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For more fun writing, have students pretend they got a reindeer as a pet! What would they name it? What would they do with it?&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hqy04gTB5As/VmPQusr_JbI/AAAAAAAACPY/IujJaP_FwnA/s1600/Christmas%2BReindeer.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hqy04gTB5As/VmPQusr_JbI/AAAAAAAACPY/IujJaP_FwnA/s640/Christmas%2BReindeer.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What I love most about these writing crafts are how simple they are. It can be like pulling teeth to get some kids to write and you may even want to pull your own hair out trying to cut out 23 heads, 46 arms, etc. to prepare a writing craft for the holidays.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With these, literally the ONLY thing you have to do is print them. You also don't have the stress of kids losing their pieces (the horror!) since it's all one piece.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The other obstacle with crafts, or at least I feel this way, is TIME. These are soo much quicker because kids just write, color, cut, and glue. Since they're so quick, you can even do one every day or every other day. They make fun mini lessons to brainstorm together then send them off to do the writing and craft. They get really quick at them! :)&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They're also wonderful for differentiation purposes.. every craft comes in 3 levels (4 writing lines as pictured in all of these as well as 5 and 6 line options) AND all 3 levels have "extra" pages you can add to the bottom of the stack to make the story longer. They could be entire books if you have kiddos that love to write!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Speaking of books, I LOVE books about the gingerbread man! There are so many fun ones out there. This is a fun craft to do after reading a fun gingerbread man book with your students.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They turn out much cuter in person.. for some reason, my camera hates green paper. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WRYli9rVyuw/VmPPqpVj6-I/AAAAAAAACO4/Q7ElDjBrCo4/s1600/Christmas%2BGingerbread%2BMan.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Gingerbread man writing craft perfect to read with Gingerbread Man books in December" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WRYli9rVyuw/VmPPqpVj6-I/AAAAAAAACO4/Q7ElDjBrCo4/s640/Christmas%2BGingerbread%2BMan.PNG" title="Gingerbread man writing craft perfect to read with Gingerbread Man books in December" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay, okay, last Christmas one (I love Christmas!) but I had to share this one.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Brainstorm with your kids what Santa does AFTER Christmas? What else does he do all year? He works really hard to prepare for Christmas... don't you think he needs a vacation?? Where would he go? What would he do? Brainstorming this one whole group is hi.lar.i.ous. Do it! Then have them write about it! :)&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tcX-7lPb47w/VmPRZx2UKQI/AAAAAAAACPw/mrDIKDt0z58/s1600/Christmas%2BSanta%2BVacation.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tcX-7lPb47w/VmPRZx2UKQI/AAAAAAAACPw/mrDIKDt0z58/s640/Christmas%2BSanta%2BVacation.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All of the above are just some of the Christmas crafts in my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Writing-2238311" target="_blank">Christmas NO PREP Writing Crafts Bundle</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can also get the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reindeer-Craft-2240298" target="_blank">reindeer</a>, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Gingerbread-Man-2240297" target="_blank">gingerbread man</a>, or <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Elf-2239298" target="_blank">elves</a> writing crafts separately if you only want those but the bundle gets you a lot more for less and is a lot more fun in my opinion. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">December is also a really great time to incorporate social studies and geography by studying how other people celebrate in December. In my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Around-the-World-Writing-Crafts-BUNDLE-2246749" target="_blank">Christmas Around the World writing crafts bundle</a>, I have some easy crafts you can do after learning about the different holidays.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b43UePmdCHA/VmPWmCLgl5I/AAAAAAAACTM/Fwni9_VYQdA/s1600/Christmas%2BWorld%2Bv%2B%25288%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Around the World writing activities and crafts that are perfect for learning about how Christmas is celebrated around the world" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b43UePmdCHA/VmPWmCLgl5I/AAAAAAAACTM/Fwni9_VYQdA/s640/Christmas%2BWorld%2Bv%2B%25288%2529.PNG" title="Christmas Around the World writing activities and crafts that are perfect for learning about how Christmas is celebrated around the world" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For Hanukkah:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M6ew2930gvo/VmPSP2ro9RI/AAAAAAAACQY/ROTUQR7tqIY/s1600/Christmas%2BWorld%2BHanukkah%2BKids.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hanukkah writing craft activity and other fun Christmas around the world ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M6ew2930gvo/VmPSP2ro9RI/AAAAAAAACQY/ROTUQR7tqIY/s640/Christmas%2BWorld%2BHanukkah%2BKids.PNG" title="Hanukkah writing craft activity and other fun Christmas around the world ideas" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you want to get brave, you can let them put glitter on their menorah which makes it extra cute! Have them sprinkle some gold glitter on the flames to make them shine. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hXLicnSt0og/VmPSOYPZNdI/AAAAAAAACQU/dJw2CW_-LzQ/s1600/Christmas%2BWorld%2BHanukkah%2BMenorah.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Hanukkah writing craft activity and other fun Christmas around the world ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hXLicnSt0og/VmPSOYPZNdI/AAAAAAAACQU/dJw2CW_-LzQ/s640/Christmas%2BWorld%2BHanukkah%2BMenorah.PNG" title="Hanukkah writing craft activity and other fun Christmas around the world ideas" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If you teach the customs of each holiday, the dreidel game is always a huge hit! Teach them how to play and it's a GREAT game to practice counting/addition/etc. For the actual game, depending on which side the dreidel lands on, kids either take from the pot, give to the pot, or do nothing. So give your kiddos yellow cubes or yellow pom pom balls (to represent gelt) and a dreidel to spin. You can usually find 4 packs of dreidels at the dollar store! You can easily make it a fun math game by placing dot stickers on each side that say +1, -2, etc. to tell them what to do with their gelt. It's a ton of fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ySPilZtSq84/VmPSALTz8WI/AAAAAAAACQI/KcEYutAR55U/s1600/Christmas%2BWorld%2BHanukkah%2BDreidel.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to play dreidel and other Hanukkah writing craft activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ySPilZtSq84/VmPSALTz8WI/AAAAAAAACQI/KcEYutAR55U/s640/Christmas%2BWorld%2BHanukkah%2BDreidel.PNG" title="How to play dreidel and other Hanukkah writing craft activities" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another craft I love to do for Hanukkah is hand print menorahs!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBwY4nhmLrg/VmoG2BtALjI/AAAAAAAACU8/bsK8xU6-tTI/s1600/Menorah%2BCraft%2Bh1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="FREE Hanukkah handprint craft for kids" border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZBwY4nhmLrg/VmoG2BtALjI/AAAAAAAACU8/bsK8xU6-tTI/s640/Menorah%2BCraft%2Bh1.png" title="FREE Hanukkah handprint craft for kids" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To do this craft, paint each kids' hand yellow on their palms, blue on their fingers, and orange on their finger tips. Only do 1 thumb and leave the other clean for the candle in the middle. Then, have them put their thumbs on top of each other (painted thumb on bottom) and press down to make a menorah!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_-0w4zyWvHQ/VmoG6Sz0fmI/AAAAAAAACVM/j5wbFgttkJE/s1600/Menorah%2BCraft%2Bhand.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Directions for how to do a FREE Hanukkah handprint craft for kids" border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_-0w4zyWvHQ/VmoG6Sz0fmI/AAAAAAAACVM/j5wbFgttkJE/s640/Menorah%2BCraft%2Bhand.png" title="Directions for how to do a FREE Hanukkah handprint craft for kids" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I love the way they turned out!! Once the paint dries, you can have them color in the "Happy Hanukkah" and the border. :)&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CXmqmvpHWLw/VmoG56i6WEI/AAAAAAAACVQ/5egDSv3Qsvk/s1600/Menorah%2BCraft%2Bv2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Directions for how to do a FREE Hanukkah handprint craft for kids" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CXmqmvpHWLw/VmoG56i6WEI/AAAAAAAACVQ/5egDSv3Qsvk/s640/Menorah%2BCraft%2Bv2.png" title="Directions for how to do a FREE Hanukkah handprint craft for kids" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can grab <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Hanukkah-Craft-FREE-2253670" target="_blank">my Happy Hanukkah mat</a>&nbsp;FREE&nbsp;to do this craft too!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For Kwanzaa, I have these 2 fun crafts:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nnFAsi1jBHw/VmPScn25OXI/AAAAAAAACQg/W5wsvWKfTco/s1600/Christmas%2BWorld%2BKwanzaa%2Bh.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Kwanzaa writing craft activity and other fun Christmas around the world ideas" border="0" height="484" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nnFAsi1jBHw/VmPScn25OXI/AAAAAAAACQg/W5wsvWKfTco/s640/Christmas%2BWorld%2BKwanzaa%2Bh.png" title="Kwanzaa writing craft activity and other fun Christmas around the world ideas" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You can also add the glitter to the flames of the candles of the kinara for Kwanzaa as well! I am usually weary of glitter but I have come to accept that I will somehow find glitter on me every single day in December whether I use it or not.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For St. Lucia's Day, I made these 2 options:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DAbucy4P6_Y/VmPTzjiusyI/AAAAAAAACRk/ceREi8Hmy7A/s1600/Christmas%2BWorld%2BSt%2BLucias%2BDay%2BGirl.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="St. Lucia's Day writing craft activity and other fun Christmas around the world ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DAbucy4P6_Y/VmPTzjiusyI/AAAAAAAACRk/ceREi8Hmy7A/s640/Christmas%2BWorld%2BSt%2BLucias%2BDay%2BGirl.PNG" title="St. Lucia's Day writing craft activity and other fun Christmas around the world ideas" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4tWRsCKQSCs/VmPUPH1YntI/AAAAAAAACSA/hlQArZSv_9g/s1600/Christmas%2BWorld%2BSt%2BLucias%2BDay.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="St. Lucia's Day writing craft activity and other fun Christmas around the world ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4tWRsCKQSCs/VmPUPH1YntI/AAAAAAAACSA/hlQArZSv_9g/s640/Christmas%2BWorld%2BSt%2BLucias%2BDay.PNG" title="St. Lucia's Day writing craft activity and other fun Christmas around the world ideas" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For this holiday, it's super fun to also have the kids make hats!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For the girls, use a strip of green construction paper and staple it to fit their head. Then, have them make candles (glue a yellow flame onto a small strip of white cardstock so it's thick enough to stand up on its own) to glue onto the green construction paper. Have them glue it into the back so it pops out of the wreath.&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">For the boys, fold a piece of white paper into a cone. Have them cut out 3 yellow stars to glue to the front of it. You can also have them make a star wand as well!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then there is Las Posadas!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XYCK45hWrdA/VmPTldG_OmI/AAAAAAAACRM/UtOUW7oKN4M/s1600/Christmas%2BWorld%2BLas%2BPosadas.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Las Posadas writing craft activity and other fun Christmas around the world ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XYCK45hWrdA/VmPTldG_OmI/AAAAAAAACRM/UtOUW7oKN4M/s640/Christmas%2BWorld%2BLas%2BPosadas.PNG" title="Las Posadas writing craft activity and other fun Christmas around the world ideas" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I grew up in a small border town in Arizona so there was a piñata at almost every outdoor birthday party I went to as a kid and I LOVED them. What kid doesn't like to be blindfolded and handed a bat to swing as hard as they can at a fun object with the hopes that candy rains on them?! I LOVED them! Whether you were the momentary rock star to break open the piñata or not, you still got to run under the piñata to gather as much candy as your little hands could hold as soon as it was broken!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EjThywHo6lQ/VmPTsgniyRI/AAAAAAAACRU/m82JdMiar3s/s1600/Christmas%2BWorld%2BPinata.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Las Posadas piñata writing craft activity and other fun Christmas around the world ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EjThywHo6lQ/VmPTsgniyRI/AAAAAAAACRU/m82JdMiar3s/s640/Christmas%2BWorld%2BPinata.PNG" title="Las Posadas piñata writing craft activity and other fun Christmas around the world ideas" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's hard for me to imagine a piñata-less childhood, but if your students have yet to experience them, see if you can create the experience for them! Maybe ask your principal for permission first, though.. maybe :) If not, you could watch a video on it and then have the students write how to do it. You can also make your own paper mache piñata with your class!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Also for Las Posadas, I have this craft with Mary and Joseph if you teach your students about how Las Posadas is celebrated.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fp33Zs0EgtY/VmPTFChet7I/AAAAAAAACQ8/TU3NoTWivHw/s1600/Christmas%2BWorld%2BLas%2BPosadas%2BMule.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Las Posadas writing craft activity and other fun Christmas around the world ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fp33Zs0EgtY/VmPTFChet7I/AAAAAAAACQ8/TU3NoTWivHw/s640/Christmas%2BWorld%2BLas%2BPosadas%2BMule.PNG" title="Las Posadas writing craft activity and other fun Christmas around the world ideas" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Like I said, you can grab ALL of these <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Hanukkah-NO-PREP-Writing-Crafts-2246751" target="_blank">Hanukkah</a>, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Kwanzaa-NO-PREP-Writing-Crafts-2246753" target="_blank">Kwanzaa</a>, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/St-Lucias-Day-NO-PREP-Writing-Crafts-2246758" target="_blank">St. Lucia's Day</a>, and <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Las-Posadas-NO-PREP-Writing-Crafts-2246757" target="_blank">Las Posadas</a> writing activities in the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Around-the-World-Writing-Crafts-BUNDLE-2246749" target="_blank">Christmas Around the World Writing Crafts Bundle</a> or you can get them separately by clicking on the holiday.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Si2773Kedao/VmPUCDE4-7I/AAAAAAAACR0/RUGzT2fbLNM/s1600/Christmas%2BWorld%2Bh%2B%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Christmas Around the World writing activities and crafts that are perfect for learning about how Christmas is celebrated around the world" border="0" height="484" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Si2773Kedao/VmPUCDE4-7I/AAAAAAAACR0/RUGzT2fbLNM/s640/Christmas%2BWorld%2Bh%2B%25281%2529.png" title="Christmas Around the World writing activities and crafts that are perfect for learning about how Christmas is celebrated around the world" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You can also snag ALL of these crafts and A TON MORE for a bunch of different holidays and themes in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/NO-PREP-Writing-Crafts-BUNDLE-Growing-1854254" target="_blank">NO PREP Writing Crafts Growing Bundle</a>.&nbsp;It already has over 190 crafts in it! Once you buy it, you get all the new writing prompts I add to it for FREE so it's a great deal. I've been adding to that bundle like crazy and every time I do, I raise the price accordingly... and I plan on adding a ton more crafts for each holiday and different topics and writing themes so the earlier you get it, the more you save because you can re-download it at any time to get all the new crafts I add to it free! Aren't growing bundles awesome?! :) I wrote&nbsp;<a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/05/writing-crafts-that-are-no-prep.html" target="_blank">this post</a>&nbsp;about them awhile back!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Gosh, I love Christmas so I want to share just a few more things with you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Firstly, I have to show off how adorable my cat Romeo is in his Christmas sweater. Yes, he's in a sweater. If you&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/missgiraffesclass/" target="_blank">follow me on Instagram</a>, you know that's not that out of the ordinary. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sIe2Qi0cQm0/VmTFcSw0FfI/AAAAAAAACT0/g4MX_s2nLxk/s1600/Romeo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sIe2Qi0cQm0/VmTFcSw0FfI/AAAAAAAACT0/g4MX_s2nLxk/s640/Romeo.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I've also switched my behavior chart to Christmas! I LOVE it!! <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Behavior-Chart-2244475" target="_blank">Get it here</a> if you want it too!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I wrote about switching out my behavior chart each month in my&nbsp;<a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/11/november-writing-crafts.html" target="_blank">November post</a>. It keeps it fresh and we all know teachers need all the help with managing behavior they can get in December! For this one, your students will hopefully be on their best behavior trying to get promoted to elf so they can take home the Elf Award to show their parents how awesome they are!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7yoh81My4xk/VmTGI_MEaoI/AAAAAAAACT8/jxGBzHfnhHM/s1600/ClipChart%2BChristmas%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7yoh81My4xk/VmTGI_MEaoI/AAAAAAAACT8/jxGBzHfnhHM/s640/ClipChart%2BChristmas%2BPROMO.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And my FAVORITE Christmas math activity is my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-Math-1008694" target="_blank">reindeer mystery picture</a>!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Kids grab mini cards that tell them what color to color each number with either the number "38" OR with base ten blocks where they have to figure out the number (it comes in both versions for easy differentiation)!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kHKbUde9jOc/VmfE6JoP8dI/AAAAAAAACUo/9PPFSDY32_w/s1600/Reindeer%2BPuzzle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kHKbUde9jOc/VmfE6JoP8dI/AAAAAAAACUo/9PPFSDY32_w/s640/Reindeer%2BPuzzle.png" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And it reveals..... a reindeer!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4aDsmC7eGdk/VmTIY0k6etI/AAAAAAAACUI/IAqHKIb2lL0/s1600/Slide2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4aDsmC7eGdk/VmTIY0k6etI/AAAAAAAACUI/IAqHKIb2lL0/s640/Slide2.JPG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And if you were sweet enough to read all the way to the end of this post, guess what? FREE stuff for you! Grab these <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christmas-1592369" target="_blank">NO PREP Christmas pages</a> for free!! Enjoy! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T8VW-P50nRA/VmTI8QkPjUI/AAAAAAAACUQ/FrRL6xpLh2Q/s1600/Free%2BChristmas%2BPages%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T8VW-P50nRA/VmTI8QkPjUI/AAAAAAAACUQ/FrRL6xpLh2Q/s400/Free%2BChristmas%2BPages%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">Want more free stuff from me? Join&nbsp;</span><a href="http://eepurl.com/1WAO9" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Miss Giraffe's Class</a><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;so you never miss out on fun ideas and exclusive free stuff from me only for subscribers sent directly to your email!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Also,&nbsp;</span>follow me&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/themissgiraffe" target="_blank">on Pinterest</a>&nbsp;for more teaching ideas!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You can also check out more of my monthly crafts here:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/january-writing-crafts.html">January Writing Crafts</a></div><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/february-writing-prompts.html" target="_blank">February Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2017/02/march-writing-activities-and-bossy-r-activities.html" target="_blank">March Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2017/04/april-writing-activities-and-fun-spring.html" target="_blank">April Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/11/november-writing-crafts.html">November Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/10/october-writing-crafts-for-kids.html">October Writing Crafts</a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Hope you all have a WONDERFUL holiday season!!</div></div>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-51441334512525852662015-11-06T16:46:00.001-07:002017-11-25T09:11:43.224-07:00November Writing CraftsNovember writing is all about being thankful - thankful for what we have and for what others have done to allow us to have what we have! From Thanksgiving to Veterans Day, there are a ton of great writing activities and prompts you can do in November!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D8n2lMNebaQ/Vjzt6rZm6YI/AAAAAAAACGI/vTcOFXaPDDg/s1600/Thanksgiving%2BWriting%2Bh%2B%25281%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="November writing crafts perfect for Thanksgiving writing" border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D8n2lMNebaQ/Vjzt6rZm6YI/AAAAAAAACGI/vTcOFXaPDDg/s640/Thanksgiving%2BWriting%2Bh%2B%25281%2529.PNG" title="November writing crafts perfect for Thanksgiving writing" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />The first event we write about in November is Election Day!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nu0btQzAITY/VjzwYUMGP2I/AAAAAAAACG8/WdGLod4n1Dg/s1600/Election%2BDay%2BWriting%2B%25281%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Election Day writing crafts that are no prep and so much fun to learn about the election and voting" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Nu0btQzAITY/VjzwYUMGP2I/AAAAAAAACG8/WdGLod4n1Dg/s640/Election%2BDay%2BWriting%2B%25281%2529.PNG" title="Election Day writing crafts that are no prep and so much fun to learn about the election and voting" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Election-Day-2180466" target="_blank">Election Day Writing Crafts</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Election Day may not seem like the most exciting thing to talk about but it can be a lot of fun because kids LOVE to vote. There are a lot of great books you can read and then follow it up with a writing activity about Election Day and why it is important to vote.<br /><br />My favorite activity is to have a class vote!<br /><br />Get an empty tissue box and wrap it in red/blue construction paper and create a ballot box.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vqR2O1UwIA/VjzvvrELb1I/AAAAAAAACGo/Uyd7zhXJd6A/s1600/Election%2BDay%2BVotes%2Bh.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Election Day writing crafts that are no prep and so much fun to learn about the election and voting" border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vqR2O1UwIA/VjzvvrELb1I/AAAAAAAACGo/Uyd7zhXJd6A/s640/Election%2BDay%2BVotes%2Bh.PNG" title="Election Day writing crafts that are no prep and so much fun to learn about the election and voting" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Do a few silly mock votes first where students simply raise their hands with their heads down (since voting is supposed to be confidential) and tally it up on the white board and count it up with them for some sneaky tally marks math practice as well ;) You can ask silly questions like "Would you rather be a dragon or a unicorn?" and do a few quick mock votes.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then, tell students you're going to do a <i>real</i>&nbsp;vote where they get to decide on something!&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;">Write the 2 choices on the board and give them a strip of paper to write their choice on, fold, and place in the ballot box when they're done. If you want to be fancy, you could print up little voting sheets that have the 2 choices and a box but that's up to you! After all the votes are in, you can empty the box and go through each vote, saying it out loud and adding a tally mark on the board... then total it and announce the winning choice!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As you can see in the green "My Vote" writing activity above, I wrote 2 choices on the ballot - extra recess or craft - for students to choose from. The ballot I provide is empty so you can write, or have students write, any 2 choices in there that you want. Then, they mark their vote and write about it.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I love this activity because students get to participate in a vote that matters to them and see that every vote counts and matters. Pick something to vote on that they care about - maybe which activity they do Friday or what snack to have that day.&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You can grab all these in the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Election-Day-2180466" target="_blank">Election Day Writing Activities</a>&nbsp;pack.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The next holiday in November is VETERANS DAY!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OzU9ZmDxiBw/Vjz08AyYYmI/AAAAAAAACJ0/TdnmTcVNOyY/s1600/Veterans%2BDay%2BWriting%2B%25282%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Veterans Day writing activities that are perfect no prep crafts" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-OzU9ZmDxiBw/Vjz08AyYYmI/AAAAAAAACJ0/TdnmTcVNOyY/s640/Veterans%2BDay%2BWriting%2B%25282%2529.PNG" title="Veterans Day writing activities that are perfect no prep crafts" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Veterans-Day-2180422" target="_blank">Veterans Day Writing Activities</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Veterans Day is a time we say thank you to the veterans that have served our country. I created these fun Veterans Day crafts to honor our veterans. I made both a male and female soldier and both a male and female patriotic kid so you have a few options to choose from.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">You can use them to write letters to soldiers or to write about Veterans Day and why we celebrate it.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g3avU2ecpik/Vjz0Rdlwj5I/AAAAAAAACJY/s6MszrmOqM8/s1600/Veterans%2BDay%2BBoy%2B%25282%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Veterans Day writing activities that are perfect no prep crafts" border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-g3avU2ecpik/Vjz0Rdlwj5I/AAAAAAAACJY/s6MszrmOqM8/s320/Veterans%2BDay%2BBoy%2B%25282%2529.PNG" title="Veterans Day writing activities that are perfect no prep crafts" width="240" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6LOCrIwJ_hM/Vjz04Fq5LZI/AAAAAAAACJo/kh-j34IA8io/s1600/Veterans%2BDay%2BGirl%2B2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Veterans Day writing activities that are perfect no prep crafts" border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6LOCrIwJ_hM/Vjz04Fq5LZI/AAAAAAAACJo/kh-j34IA8io/s320/Veterans%2BDay%2BGirl%2B2.PNG" title="Veterans Day writing activities that are perfect no prep crafts" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These make great bulletin boards if you give each student a boy or girl craft to color like themselves and let them choose red, white, or blue paper as the background - it makes a really awesome patriotic display! These are all in the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Veterans-Day-2180422" target="_blank">Veterans Day Writing Activities</a> pack.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Don't think I forgot you, my worldwide friends!<br />I also made <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Remembrance-Day-2180437" target="_blank">Remembrance Day writing activities</a> for those of you who celebrate Remembrance Day:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SADIA8goh-s/VjzxozzefTI/AAAAAAAACHw/fnemSoTC2RA/s1600/Remembrance%2BDay%2BWriting%2B%25283%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Remembrance Day writing activities that are great no prep crafts - Canadian and Australian flags and also no flag options!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SADIA8goh-s/VjzxozzefTI/AAAAAAAACHw/fnemSoTC2RA/s640/Remembrance%2BDay%2BWriting%2B%25283%2529.PNG" title="Remembrance Day writing activities that are great no prep crafts - Canadian and Australian flags and also no flag options!" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Remembrance-Day-2180437" target="_blank">Remembrance Day Writing Activities</a></div><br />I made ones for Canada with the Canadian flag...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0YciNJiKrYU/VjzxAOiwNQI/AAAAAAAACHY/7YO4qqBcG1w/s1600/Remembrance%2BDay%2BCanada%2Bh.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Remembrance Day writing activities that are great no prep crafts - Canadian and Australian flags and also no flag options!" border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0YciNJiKrYU/VjzxAOiwNQI/AAAAAAAACHY/7YO4qqBcG1w/s640/Remembrance%2BDay%2BCanada%2Bh.PNG" title="Remembrance Day writing activities that are great no prep crafts - Canadian and Australian flags and also no flag options!" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />For Australia with the Australian flag...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5YbhqBNxUkw/VjzwaJUNYnI/AAAAAAAACHA/AHtrntAKhks/s1600/Remembrance%2BDay%2BAustralia%2Bh.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Remembrance Day writing activities that are great no prep crafts - Canadian and Australian flags and also no flag options!" border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5YbhqBNxUkw/VjzwaJUNYnI/AAAAAAAACHA/AHtrntAKhks/s640/Remembrance%2BDay%2BAustralia%2Bh.PNG" title="Remembrance Day writing activities that are great no prep crafts - Canadian and Australian flags and also no flag options!" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />and I also have a general version of a male soldier and also a female soldier that any country can use. :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9N7bXfBH88g/VjzxnsnUInI/AAAAAAAACHo/gWAK7G0-JAs/s1600/Remembrance%2BDay%2Bsoldiers%2Bh%2B%25283%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Remembrance Day writing activities that are great no prep crafts - Canadian and Australian flags and also no flag options!" border="0" height="480" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9N7bXfBH88g/VjzxnsnUInI/AAAAAAAACHo/gWAK7G0-JAs/s640/Remembrance%2BDay%2Bsoldiers%2Bh%2B%25283%2529.PNG" title="Remembrance Day writing activities that are great no prep crafts - Canadian and Australian flags and also no flag options!" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br /><br />Then it's time for <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Thanksgiving-Writing-2165067" target="_blank">THANKSGIVING writing</a> fun!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9yjlrOXGdE/VjzzjUfSMyI/AAAAAAAACI0/vyVho6iePiw/s1600/Thanksgiving%2BWriting%2B%25281%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r9yjlrOXGdE/VjzzjUfSMyI/AAAAAAAACI0/vyVho6iePiw/s640/Thanksgiving%2BWriting%2B%25281%2529.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Thanksgiving-Writing-2165067" target="_blank">Thanksgiving Writing Activities</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">in Spanish:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Dia-de-Accion-de-Gracias-actividades-de-escritura-2878644" target="_blank">Día de Acción de Gracias</a></div><br /><br />In my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Miss-Giraffe/Category/Writing-Crafts" target="_blank">holiday writing activities</a>, I like to include as many writing genres as possible for the writing prompts - how to writing, opinion writing, creative writing, narrative writing, etc. so that fun, seasonal activities can still be really educational.<br /><br />Thanksgiving is a time where we think about what we're thankful for which is a great writing topic!<br /><br />First, brainstorm all of the things you're thankful for together as a group.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dtGdBN8JGZU/Vj02phPhHpI/AAAAAAAACKQ/if_-wROFN2g/s1600/I%2Bam%2BThankful%2Bfor%2Bv.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="What I am thankful for writing activity to do whole group for November Thanksgiving" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dtGdBN8JGZU/Vj02phPhHpI/AAAAAAAACKQ/if_-wROFN2g/s640/I%2Bam%2BThankful%2Bfor%2Bv.png" title="What I am thankful for writing activity to do whole group for November Thanksgiving" width="480" /></a></div><br />Any time you are brainstorming together, I think it's great to have students add detail to their idea while you're brainstorming. Instead of just making a big list of what we're thankful for, have them add 2-3 details to it of <i>why</i> they're thankful for that particular thing. This will really help their writing later!<br /><br />Then, they can take what they've brainstormed and write about what they're thankful for with this cute writing prompt.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l7OyQvf6Q2Q/Vjzy7RZX6QI/AAAAAAAACIg/7lyQHJcFnyI/s1600/Thanksgiving%2BThankful%2B%25281%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l7OyQvf6Q2Q/Vjzy7RZX6QI/AAAAAAAACIg/7lyQHJcFnyI/s640/Thanksgiving%2BThankful%2B%25281%2529.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I am loving owls recently! How cute are these little Thanksgiving owls??&nbsp;</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gOxq2cbFxYE/VjzySQmxcwI/AAAAAAAACII/iJFBJ_7YgSA/s1600/Thanksgiving%2BOwls.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gOxq2cbFxYE/VjzySQmxcwI/AAAAAAAACII/iJFBJ_7YgSA/s640/Thanksgiving%2BOwls.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><br />When learning about the history of Thanksgiving in social studies, I think it's fun to pretend like we're pilgrims. There are so many great things you can talk about of the differences of how they lived then vs. how we live now.<br /><br />This is a fun little writing craft you can do to see how much they learned about pilgrim life (or just as a fun creative writing piece!) to have students pretend they're a pilgrim and imagine what they'd do!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iFFOlVJxwi8/VjzwYaFA1rI/AAAAAAAACG0/J0IbK0ZSIdI/s1600/Pilgrim%2BWriting%2Bh%2B%25282%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="If I Were a Pilgrim writing activity and other fun Thanksgiving no prep crafts" border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iFFOlVJxwi8/VjzwYaFA1rI/AAAAAAAACG0/J0IbK0ZSIdI/s640/Pilgrim%2BWriting%2Bh%2B%25282%2529.PNG" title="If I Were a Pilgrim writing activity and other fun Thanksgiving no prep crafts" width="640" /></a></div><br />Have students color themselves as a pilgrim and use the fun writing prompt to imagine themselves as pilgrims! BUT a pilgrim wouldn't write with any ordinary pencil!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z1SJjEG1_cw/Vj02i8u4nuI/AAAAAAAACKM/2Q3VrspHczU/s1600/Pilgrim%2BWriting%2BQuill.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Tape feathers to pencils to make quills for November writing fun!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z1SJjEG1_cw/Vj02i8u4nuI/AAAAAAAACKM/2Q3VrspHczU/s640/Pilgrim%2BWriting%2BQuill.png" title="Tape feathers to pencils to make quills for November writing fun!" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Attach feathers to their pencils to make writing quills like the pilgrims would use! All you need is a pack of long Thanksgiving colored feathers and some tape. You can secure them really well with just a little piece of tape around it - be sure to leave enough pencil room for their hand to grip the pencil with. You can get a pack of 20 feathers at the big craft stores for around $2.50 if you use their weekly 40-50% off coupons!<br /><br />It just makes writing so much more fun! I remember getting to do this when I was learning calligraphy and I just thought it was the neatest thing as a kid. :)<br /><br />If you have enough LED candles, you can also turn the lights out for this writing activity and turn on LED candles around the room to make it even more realistic.<br /><br />I also made a writing craft activity for learning about The Mayflower for some great nonfiction writing practice.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WeubbOhpRLc/VjzyP-foTNI/AAAAAAAACH8/xiJu5S1EHcE/s1600/Thanksgiving%2BMayflower%2B%25284%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Mayflower writing activity that's an easy no prep craft for November learning fun" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WeubbOhpRLc/VjzyP-foTNI/AAAAAAAACH8/xiJu5S1EHcE/s640/Thanksgiving%2BMayflower%2B%25284%2529.PNG" title="Mayflower writing activity that's an easy no prep craft for November learning fun" width="480" /></a></div><br />Then it's on to the yummy part!<br /><br />For some how to writing practice, brainstorm with students the steps you would take to make an apple pie. Have students fold a paper into sections (however many sections for the amount of steps you teach them) and write the steps you created together for them to take to their seats and write.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zx8kYd-5zcg/VjzxonrV6rI/AAAAAAAACHs/0dg8qd8kYN0/s1600/Thanksgiving%2BHow%2Bto%2BMake%2BApple%2BPie%2B%25281%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Zx8kYd-5zcg/VjzxonrV6rI/AAAAAAAACHs/0dg8qd8kYN0/s640/Thanksgiving%2BHow%2Bto%2BMake%2BApple%2BPie%2B%25281%2529.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><br />Extra bonus points if you bring in an apple pie for them to have a little sliver of during/after writing.<br /><br />For opinion writing practice, have students write about what kind of pie is their favorite!<br />Have them brainstorm why and add as many details as possible. The thing I love about these writing prompts is that they come in 3 writing levels (amount of lines on the page) - all of the ones pictured in this post are the easiest level with 4 writing lines BUT you can extend them as big as you want to create this book appearance where there is a page, or pages, underneath where they can continue writing so it's easily differentiated. For older or more advanced students, they can start out with the pages with more lines and still add the "extra" pages to the back so these can be used with such a variety of learners and all do the same activity on their level.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OJFU-pzQNJM/VjzyRGcdx-I/AAAAAAAACIE/vDaBU6lUUOk/s1600/Thanksgiving%2BMy%2BFavorite%2BPie.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OJFU-pzQNJM/VjzyRGcdx-I/AAAAAAAACIE/vDaBU6lUUOk/s640/Thanksgiving%2BMy%2BFavorite%2BPie.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><br />And you can't write about Thanksgiving without the turkey!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--EuSOAZiAWk/VjzzfoZsOBI/AAAAAAAACIs/PBSdkI8rN6Q/s1600/Thanksgiving%2BTurkey%2B%25281%2529.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/--EuSOAZiAWk/VjzzfoZsOBI/AAAAAAAACIs/PBSdkI8rN6Q/s640/Thanksgiving%2BTurkey%2B%25281%2529.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><br />You can get all of these Thanksgiving writing activities in my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Thanksgiving-Writing-2165067" target="_blank">Thanksgiving writing</a> pack.<br /><br /><br />I love holiday themed math centers - kids get so excited to do math just because it has a cute turkey on it?! I'll take it! Here is one of my favorite Thanksgiving math stations: <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Thanksgiving-Math-946378" target="_blank">Place Value 100 Chart Puzzle (Turkey)</a><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-7p0nsQsEE/Vj02rcMZDTI/AAAAAAAACKc/UyVigu3pg78/s1600/Turkey%2B100%2BChart%2BPuzzle.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Place value puzzle that reveals a turkey perfect for Thanksgiving math centers - also comes in numbers only version for number sense!" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-7p0nsQsEE/Vj02rcMZDTI/AAAAAAAACKc/UyVigu3pg78/s640/Turkey%2B100%2BChart%2BPuzzle.png" title="Place value puzzle that reveals a turkey perfect for Thanksgiving math centers - also comes in numbers only version for number sense!" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Thanksgiving-Math-946378" target="_blank">Place Value 100 Chart Puzzle</a><br />in Spanish:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Dia-de-Accion-de-Gracias-Rompecabeza-de-Valor-Posicional-2875635" target="_blank">Día de Acción de Gracias Rompecabeza de Valor Posicional</a></div><br />Students look at each card to figure out what number the base ten blocks represent and color in that number the color the card says. When they finish doing all the cards, their hundreds chart will reveal a mystery picture... a turkey! You can never have enough place value practice so I love this activity because it's a ton of math practice but they're too busy being little math detectives to realize it :) I also added a set of number cards to that puzzle too so you can do it as just numbers (kids look at the number card and color it in) if you'd rather to do that version! :)<br /><br /><br />Another fun center I love is <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Missing-Numbers-Thanksgiving-Math-Center-2195275" target="_blank">Thanksgiving Missing Numbers</a>! Kids look at the Thanksgiving object or character and figure out what number it represents then write it on their recording sheet. It's also <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Dia-de-Accion-de-Gracias-Numeros-que-faltan-actividad-matematica-2875592" target="_blank">in Spanish</a> here.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6g6qXTi52J4/WCYZPWPgUsI/AAAAAAAADuI/S0-YXdwBk3sXJDF6crjjr7RANDpcwYGJgCLcB/s1600/Thanksgiving%2BMath%2BCenter%2BMissing%2BNumbers%2Bv.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Thanksgiving math activity where kids look at the Thanksgiving character or object and write the missing number - super fun November math center!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6g6qXTi52J4/WCYZPWPgUsI/AAAAAAAADuI/S0-YXdwBk3sXJDF6crjjr7RANDpcwYGJgCLcB/s640/Thanksgiving%2BMath%2BCenter%2BMissing%2BNumbers%2Bv.jpg" title="Thanksgiving math activity where kids look at the Thanksgiving character or object and write the missing number - super fun November math center!" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />I also have other Thanksgiving resources if you need more:<br /><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Thanksgiving-Activities-No-Prep-November-Worksheets-and-Writing-Activities-2199700" target="_blank">Thanksgiving No Prep Literacy Activities</a><br /><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Thanksgiving-Activities-975647" target="_blank">Thanksgiving MATH activities</a><br /><div><br /></div><br />Another fun thing I like to do each month is make a new behavior chart! If you use a behavior chart in your classroom, you may notice that it's really effective at first but then it gets old. BUT if you switch it out each month with new goals to reach and new certificates to earn, it's like a brand new exciting behavior management tool each month that gets kids excited to get to the top of. I talk about this in my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/04/classroom-management-strategies.html" target="_blank">20 Classroom Management Strategies You Can Start Right Away</a> post if you want to read more about switching out the behavior chart and other tips.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-FOk_FucXs/Vj04M2RQUCI/AAAAAAAACKo/OLeyYfbFdzo/s1600/ClipChart%2BThanksgiving%2BPROMO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Top turkey Thanksgiving behavior chart - so much fun for November classroom management" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z-FOk_FucXs/Vj04M2RQUCI/AAAAAAAACKo/OLeyYfbFdzo/s640/ClipChart%2BThanksgiving%2BPROMO.jpg" title="Top turkey Thanksgiving behavior chart - so much fun for November classroom management" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Thanksgiving-Behavior-Chart-2184978" target="_blank">Thanksgiving Behavior Chart</a></div><br />Excuse my cheesy puns... I love puns! :)<br /><br />For switching out your behavior chart - always keep the color order the same for going up/down the chart (pink, purple, blue, green, yellow, orange, red) each month and have only the words and pictures change to the new theme. That way you don't have to explain anything - just switch out the chart at the beginning of the month and wait for the "ooooh!!"s when they walk through the door to see the new chart. I recommend starting with my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Chart-871381" target="_blank">plain chevron chart</a>&nbsp;or (one of the themed ones if you have a themed classroom like <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Clip-Chart-Baseball-Themed-1390794" target="_blank">baseball</a>, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Chart-Space-theme-2003248" target="_blank">space</a>, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Chart-Soccer-themed-1985530" target="_blank">soccer</a>, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Behavior-Chart-Western-theme-2006972" target="_blank">cowboy/western</a>, etc.) for them to learn how it works and then switch to thematic ones starting in October for <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Halloween-Behavior-Clip-Chart-873546" target="_blank">Halloween</a> then each month after.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yjpCiA75wQU/Vj048_oreLI/AAAAAAAACKw/LnSvuKjhMRg/s1600/Slide8%2Bsmaller%2Bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Top Turkey award for November classroom management that goes perfect with the Thanksgiving behavior chart on this post - read this!" border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yjpCiA75wQU/Vj048_oreLI/AAAAAAAACKw/LnSvuKjhMRg/s320/Slide8%2Bsmaller%2Bb.jpg" title="Top Turkey award for November classroom management that goes perfect with the Thanksgiving behavior chart on this post - read this!" width="320" /></a></div><br />For this&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Thanksgiving-Behavior-Chart-2184978" target="_blank">Thanksgiving behavior chart</a>, students are trying to be the top turkey!! If they get to the top of the chart, they get a Top Turkey Award to take home to their families. I have them in 5 different colors as well as a black and white version students can color as an extra reward if you want! If they reach the top, maybe their reward is they can stop what they're doing to color and decorate their award to bring home to their parents.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nGiI6Btge0I/Vj048iAarDI/AAAAAAAACKs/lrIjN8yZj68/s1600/Slide13%2Bsmaller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nGiI6Btge0I/Vj048iAarDI/AAAAAAAACKs/lrIjN8yZj68/s320/Slide13%2Bsmaller.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Hope you have a ton of November learning fun!!!! Gobble, gobble! :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You can also check out more of my monthly crafts here:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/january-writing-crafts.html" target="_blank">January Writing Crafts</a></div><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/february-writing-prompts.html" target="_blank">February Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2017/02/march-writing-activities-and-bossy-r-activities.html" target="_blank">March Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2017/04/april-writing-activities-and-fun-spring.html" target="_blank">April Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/12/december-writing-crafts.html" target="_blank">December Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/10/october-writing-crafts-for-kids.html" target="_blank">October Writing Crafts</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Follow me&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/themissgiraffe" target="_blank">on Pinterest</a>&nbsp;for more teaching ideas!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Also - don't forget to join&nbsp;</span><a href="http://eepurl.com/1WAO9" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Miss Giraffe's Class</a><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;so you never miss out on fun ideas and exclusive free stuff from me only for subscribers!</span>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-84787519451880042152015-10-27T12:39:00.001-07:002015-10-27T13:13:38.154-07:00Win $100 to my store and get blog exposure! {Blog post contest}Hi friends! I am so excited to announce this blog post contest I'm having!<br /><br />Want to win <span style="font-size: large;">a $100 credit</span> to my store??<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FpGWjJmi-qw/Vi_Q5mOp4JI/AAAAAAAACFE/-TXB3rsE85I/s1600/Blog%2BPost%2BContest%2Bimage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FpGWjJmi-qw/Vi_Q5mOp4JI/AAAAAAAACFE/-TXB3rsE85I/s640/Blog%2BPost%2BContest%2Bimage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><br />EVERY participant gets a $5 credit to my store just for having a valid entry!<br /><div><br /></div><div>How??</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">One of my absolute favorite things in the entire world is seeing my resources being used in classrooms all over the country/world and I'd LOVE to see &amp; hear about them being used in your classroom!</span></div><div><br /></div><div>I know so many of you have amazing blogs and already use my resources (because I creep your <a href="http://www.instagram.com/missgiraffesclass" target="_blank">instagrams</a> :)) so this should be an easy way to possibly win $100 in resources from my store (your choice of anything in my store!) or, at the very least, get a <b>$5 credit</b> to my store and some <b>exposure</b> to your blog<i> just for entering</i>!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, you get a $5 credit to my store just for having a valid entry! Plus, if your post is a great showcase, I'll most likely promote your post to my followers on Facebook, IG, pinterest, etc. to get it more exposure and also to ask for help in deciding a winner! So this is a great opportunity to expand your blogging reach as well! You'll also get to link up at the bottom of my post (my blog typically gets ~5,500+ visitors a day) which will hopefully get your blog more traffic as well!&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>If it's a particular great post with great content and pictures, I'll probably keep promoting it even after the contest too :)</div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;">How to Enter / "The Rules":</span></div><div>(All of these must be done in order to be qualified as a valid entry to get your $5 credit)</div><div>1. Write a blog post showing one of my <u>paid</u> products in action - I'd love to hear all about what you did, how your students liked it, or how it helped them! Tell me all about it! :)</div><div>2. Have <u>at least three</u> pictures of it being used in your post. I LOVE pictures so the more great quality pictures you have, the better!<br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Please no student faces unless you've obtained legal written permission from their parents to use their pictures on your blog.)</span></div><div>3. Make sure your post links to both my blog (<a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/">http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com</a>) <b>and</b> links to the product(s) on TpT that you're writing about in your post!</div><div>4. Link your post at the bottom of this post using the blue "Add your link" button so I can find it. :)</div><div>5. All blog posts must be published by November 30th. The earlier you write it, though, the more time I have before the contest ends to promote it!</div><div><br /></div><div>Not a requirement but it'd be awesome for you to visit some of the other people who enters' blogs and leave them some love!</div><div><br /></div><div>That's it!! I can't wait to read your posts!!<br /><br />(Also - don't forget to join&nbsp;<a href="http://eepurl.com/1WAO9" target="_blank">Miss Giraffe's Class</a>&nbsp;if you haven't already so you never miss out on fun ideas and exclusive free stuff from me only for subscribers!)</div><div><br /></div><!-- start InLinkz script --> <br /><div class="InLinkzContainer" id="576619"><a href="http://www.inlinkz.com/new/view.php?id=576619" rel="nofollow" title="click to view in an external page.">An InLinkz Link-up</a></div><script src="//static.inlinkz.com/cs2.js?v=116" type="text/javascript"></script><!-- end InLinkz script -->Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-30449374230523426602015-10-06T20:52:00.003-07:002017-02-11T18:00:13.662-07:00October Writing Crafts for KidsOctober is one of my favorite months for fun holiday projects!! Not going to lie, that is mostly because I love Halloween crafts and learning about spiders and bats and witches - oh my!<br /><div><br /></div><div>There's also Columbus Day which is fun to learn about in social studies as well as fire safety so there are a ton of fun opportunities to do crafts with your kids while still learning a lot!</div><div><br /></div><div>Here are some of my favorite NO PREP crafts I love for October. I try to mix in the different writing genres for first grade like how to writing, opinion writing, narrative writing, creative writing, nonfiction writing, etc. so that even if we're writing about something fun like witches, it can still pack in a massive amount of writing practice. Plus I LOVE these crafts because they are so easy. No more cutting out 48 witch eyes for your students to prepare. You just print out the writing prompts pages and hand it to them. They write, color, cut, and glue... so easy!</div><div><br /></div><div>Let's start with how to make Halloween crafts educational first (because did I mention I love Halloween??)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SRlZ_kb3KXU/VhRbSveNRTI/AAAAAAAACCE/oGO__cvpH_I/s1600/Halloween%2Bcrafts%2B2.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SRlZ_kb3KXU/VhRbSveNRTI/AAAAAAAACCE/oGO__cvpH_I/s640/Halloween%2Bcrafts%2B2.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div>For HOW TO WRITING practice, bring in a black cauldron and some Halloween items like eyeballs, vampire teeth, whatever little Halloween things you have laying around. Be theatrical and give your best witch cackle as you mix it up and tell them you're brewing up a potion. Then, take your kids to the carpet and ask them what they think witches put in their brew and write their answers on chart paper or on your whiteboard.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then, let them do the "How to Brew a Potion" craft where all they do is write their how to writing, color it, cut it out, and glue it onto construction paper. Instant craft!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tQ-dBt4WlJg/VhRb8WqpopI/AAAAAAAACCg/BCYyazFiM80/s1600/How%2Bto%2Bwriting%2BHalloween%2Bcraft.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to brew a potion is a super fun October how to writing activity for Halloween writing practice" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tQ-dBt4WlJg/VhRb8WqpopI/AAAAAAAACCg/BCYyazFiM80/s640/How%2Bto%2Bwriting%2BHalloween%2Bcraft.PNG" title="How to brew a potion is a super fun October how to writing activity for Halloween writing practice" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>For NONFICTION WRITING practice... well, how fun are bats and spiders??</div><div><br /></div><div>After you learn about bats and spiders, these crafts are a ton of fun for kids to practice what they've learned and they make great science bulletin boards.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yZdJYblY1uk/VhRZVX-TQgI/AAAAAAAACBA/Fofnvx6pAvw/s1600/Bats%2Bwriting%2Bcraft.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Bats writing activities and other fun October Writing Crafts for Kids" border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yZdJYblY1uk/VhRZVX-TQgI/AAAAAAAACBA/Fofnvx6pAvw/s320/Bats%2Bwriting%2Bcraft.PNG" title="Bats writing activities and other fun October Writing Crafts for Kids" width="240" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G7osfGGCYeg/VhRdDTm7zcI/AAAAAAAACDI/tixnxB2ww-M/s1600/Spiders%2Bcraft%2Bnonfiction%2Bwriting.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Spiders writing and other really fun October writing activities" border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G7osfGGCYeg/VhRdDTm7zcI/AAAAAAAACDI/tixnxB2ww-M/s320/Spiders%2Bcraft%2Bnonfiction%2Bwriting.PNG" title="Spiders writing and other really fun October writing activities" width="240" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>You could also have students pick either bats or spiders to do for their craft and have them write a persuasive writing piece on which is spookier or which is their favorite and why.</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of OPINION WRITING, this is a fun one to stir up a little controversy in your classroom.</div><div><br /></div><div>What makes a better pet for a witch - a frog or a cat?!</div><div><br /></div><div>Have students pick one and defend it in their writing :)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oaVXKAIU-iQ/VhRce4QLDhI/AAAAAAAACC4/PocRnKhjLUw/s1600/Opinion%2BWriting%2BHalloween.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Super fun opinion writing activity for October to say which Halloween pet is better for a witch - a frog or a cat!" border="0" height="480" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oaVXKAIU-iQ/VhRce4QLDhI/AAAAAAAACC4/PocRnKhjLUw/s640/Opinion%2BWriting%2BHalloween.PNG" title="Super fun opinion writing activity for October to say which Halloween pet is better for a witch - a frog or a cat!" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div>Another writing genre they cover is mystery writing... dun dun dun! Or creative writing, whatever you want to call it :) So I created this craft for students to write a mystery story about a spooky old house.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7VziriN4mFo/VhRdG4kUDZI/AAAAAAAACDQ/ANSro-43kM0/s1600/Spooky%2BHouse%2Bmystery%2Bwriting.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7VziriN4mFo/VhRdG4kUDZI/AAAAAAAACDQ/ANSro-43kM0/s640/Spooky%2BHouse%2Bmystery%2Bwriting.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>You can also have students glue these into a notebook for an interactive writing journal. They're so fun to go back and read! They're also great for students to swap during independent reading time to read each others' writing.&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div>For more creative writing, have your kids talk about what they'd do if they were a witch! It's so fun to read writing like this and see what crazy things they come up with! :)&nbsp;</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jkHbKiEZIe0/VhRdY2fmngI/AAAAAAAACDg/oZKyVCqb-8k/s1600/Witch%2Bcreative%2Bwriting%2Bcraft.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jkHbKiEZIe0/VhRdY2fmngI/AAAAAAAACDg/oZKyVCqb-8k/s640/Witch%2Bcreative%2Bwriting%2Bcraft.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Or they can write a fun narrative writing piece about them going trick or treating or make up a fun make believe story about trick or treating...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DZVNPwFCptc/VhRdSFsXNKI/AAAAAAAACDY/6c0uS_yjJSY/s1600/Trick%2Bor%2BTreat%2BHalloween%2Bwriting%2Bfor%2Bkids.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DZVNPwFCptc/VhRdSFsXNKI/AAAAAAAACDY/6c0uS_yjJSY/s640/Trick%2Bor%2BTreat%2BHalloween%2Bwriting%2Bfor%2Bkids.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As you can see there are a ton of different writing lessons you can do for Halloween! These are all in my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Halloween-Writing-2126936" target="_blank">Halloween Writing Crafts NO PREP pack</a> if you want to do them with your kids!&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&amp; if you need math ideas for Halloween, I wrote a <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/10/halloween-math-ideas.html" target="_blank">Halloween math post</a> last year with some fun ideas!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay so another fun October holiday is Columbus Day!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Kids love learning about Christopher Columbus and how he discovered America but it's hard to find cute things to do for it SO I created some more no prep crafts.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I made one for each of the 3 ships - The Nina, The Pinta, and The Santa Maria - so you can write about the ships, a few with Columbus, and a fun "If I Discovered Land" craft for creative writing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I also made these so they can write about Christopher Columbus and Columbus Day.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vJs-WJk3QP4/VhRYzdSRinI/AAAAAAAACAw/YPb-9osVcGY/s1600/Columbus%2BDay%2BCrafts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Columbus Day writing activities that are no prep - kids just write color cut and glue to show what they know about Christopher Columbus" border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vJs-WJk3QP4/VhRYzdSRinI/AAAAAAAACAw/YPb-9osVcGY/s640/Columbus%2BDay%2BCrafts.png" title="Columbus Day writing activities that are no prep - kids just write color cut and glue to show what they know about Christopher Columbus" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Those are in my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Christopher-Columbus-2126967" target="_blank">Columbus Day Writing Crafts NO PREP pack</a>!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Okay, next up..... fire safety!</div><div><br /></div><div>Fire safety is really important to learn about but it is also a lot of fun with all the firefighter themed activities! Who doesn't love fire trucks and dalmations in hats? :)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0XczigQ0zVw/VhRaFQ7GnSI/AAAAAAAACBg/WQkSmSUxAic/s1600/Fire%2BSafety%2BCrafts.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Fire safety writing activities for fire safety week and to celebrate what great community helpers firefighters are" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0XczigQ0zVw/VhRaFQ7GnSI/AAAAAAAACBg/WQkSmSUxAic/s640/Fire%2BSafety%2BCrafts.PNG" title="Fire safety writing activities for fire safety week and to celebrate what great community helpers firefighters are" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I created some crafts for students for learning about firefighters, fire safety, and what to do in case of a fire. These are just some of the crafts in the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Fire-Safety-Craft-2128935" target="_blank">Fire Safety Writing Crafts pack</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>My favorite one is How to do a Fire Drill because it is an important procedure for students to learn and follow. It's a good one to do at the beginning of the year or, if you have a fire drill that doesn't go particularly well where your class misbehaves, you can use it to review how you should act in case of a fire drill. Do you all have monthly fire drills?</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yk5VoFsEcjo/VhRbtLkkQrI/AAAAAAAACCY/UoNE0EMWO24/s1600/How%2Bto%2Bdo%2Ba%2Bfire%2Bdrill%2Bhow%2Bto%2Bwriting.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to Do a Fire Drill writing activity to go over the rule and practice how to writing at the same time - perfect for fire safety week or just reviewing classroom procedures" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yk5VoFsEcjo/VhRbtLkkQrI/AAAAAAAACCY/UoNE0EMWO24/s640/How%2Bto%2Bdo%2Ba%2Bfire%2Bdrill%2Bhow%2Bto%2Bwriting.PNG" title="How to Do a Fire Drill writing activity to go over the rule and practice how to writing at the same time - perfect for fire safety week or just reviewing classroom procedures" width="480" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I also made some fun prompts like "At the Firehouse" and "If I Were a Firefighter"....</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IW8IlAxGooc/VhRaYN4j4II/AAAAAAAACBo/wan9bliZV5Q/s1600/Firefighter%2BCreative%2BWriting%2Bcraft.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Firefighters writing activities and other great fire safety week ideas for literacy" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IW8IlAxGooc/VhRaYN4j4II/AAAAAAAACBo/wan9bliZV5Q/s640/Firefighter%2BCreative%2BWriting%2Bcraft.PNG" title="Firefighters writing activities and other great fire safety week ideas for literacy" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then of course writing about the heroes themselves, the firefighters!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">&nbsp;I think it's important to include both boys and girls of any fun occupation you study so that girls know they can be firefighters too or boys know they can be bakers too. Plus it's so much more fun coloring a craft when you can make it look like you :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l9MeoFjRKSA/VhRaja-ks0I/AAAAAAAACBw/Mz61lmlteHM/s1600/Firefighters%2Bwriting%2Bactivities.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Firefighters writing activities and other great fire safety week ideas for literacy" border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-l9MeoFjRKSA/VhRaja-ks0I/AAAAAAAACBw/Mz61lmlteHM/s640/Firefighters%2Bwriting%2Bactivities.PNG" title="Firefighters writing activities and other great fire safety week ideas for literacy" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>You can also snag ALL of these crafts in the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/NO-PREP-Writing-Crafts-BUNDLE-Growing-1854254" target="_blank">NO PREP Writing Crafts Growing Bundle</a>&nbsp;to save way more because, once you buy it, you get all the new writing prompts I add to it for FREE! I've been adding to that bundle like crazy and every time I do, I raise the price accordingly... and I plan on adding a ton more crafts for each holiday and different topics and writing themes so the earlier you get it, the more you save because you can re-download it at any time to get all the new crafts I add to it free! Aren't growing bundles awesome?! :) It already has well over 100 writing prompts in it that are so much fun for kindergarten, first grade, or even second grade! There are 3 levels for each writing prompt (with more or less lines) and you can always put more pages behind the initial page (or none at all) so they're really easy to differentiate. I wrote <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/05/writing-crafts-that-are-no-prep.html" target="_blank">this post</a> about them awhile back!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">You can also check out my other posts of monthly crafts here:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/january-writing-crafts.html" target="_blank">January Writing Crafts</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/01/february-writing-prompts.html" target="_blank">February Writing Crafts</a></div><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2017/02/march-writing-activities-and-bossy-r-activities.html" target="_blank">March Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/12/december-writing-crafts.html" target="_blank">December Writing Crafts</a><br /><a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/11/november-writing-crafts.html" target="_blank">November Writing Crafts</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Follow me&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pinterest.com/themissgiraffe" target="_blank">on Pinterest</a>&nbsp;for more teaching ideas!</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Also - don't forget to join&nbsp;</span><a href="http://eepurl.com/1WAO9" style="font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">Miss Giraffe's Class</a><span style="font-size: large;">&nbsp;so you never miss out on fun ideas and exclusive free stuff from me only for subscribers!</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div>I hope you enjoyed this post! Happy October, friends!<br /><br /><br /></div><div><br /></div>Miss Giraffehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16186555636262226562noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-284034215995977899.post-21437326594978347372015-09-28T17:25:00.000-07:002016-10-19T16:07:04.462-07:00Short A Activities and Resources (including freebies!)Short A is usually the first phonics sound you teach in kindergarten and first grade so I figured it'd be a great sound to show you teaching ideas and resources for!<br /><br />I constantly get asked, "What do you have for [insert phonics sound here]??" in emails and questions on <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/store/Miss-Giraffe" target="_blank">my TpT store</a>&nbsp;so I thought it'd be fun to SHOW you! :)<br /><br />Not to worry if you're already done with short a - all of these ideas and activities you could do with other phonics sounds and most of the resources I share I also have for the other phonics sounds as well!<br /><br />This is a <b>long</b> post but it's filled with pictures and I promise if you read through it, you'll find great ideas and some awesome FREE stuff along the way too!<br /><br />So the first thing I want to talk about are&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Short-Vowels-Pocket-Chart-Centers-and-Materials-2119830" target="_blank">these pocket chart cards</a>. I LOVE them because they can be used for so many different things! There are 39 different cards for short a alone so it's lots of practice!<br /><br />My favorite thing is to use them as a pocket chart center. Put them in a pocket chart and have students build the words with the letter cards that are also included in the pack.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MADKIFU-DQE/VgjW2Nj4kkI/AAAAAAAABqg/s97vRLDiPmw/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2B-%2BWord%2BBuilding.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MADKIFU-DQE/VgjW2Nj4kkI/AAAAAAAABqg/s97vRLDiPmw/s640/Pocket%2BChart%2B-%2BWord%2BBuilding.png" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Students just grab a word card and build it with the letter cards. The vowels come in red like this or in black. If you want to make the center a little more challenging, you can easily just snip the words off the bottom to make them picture-only cards for students to figure out how to spell. For that activity, I'd put only the letters they need in the center so it's self-checking! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BoIg9yq8EMM/VgjWsNxGGqI/AAAAAAAABp4/Xzbr8k0BLvo/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2B-%2BWord%2BBuilding%2Bclose.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BoIg9yq8EMM/VgjWsNxGGqI/AAAAAAAABp4/Xzbr8k0BLvo/s640/Pocket%2BChart%2B-%2BWord%2BBuilding%2Bclose.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Can we just talk about <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/must-have-classroom-supplies.html" target="_blank">my pocket chart</a> for a second though?? I'm sort of obsessed with my monster pocket chart center.<br /><br />I couldn't get a good picture of it - the lighting made it look faded green for the picture but it's bright neon lime in person with a glittery green mouth, big white teeth, and giant googly eyes! I promise it's actually cute in person. I wish I could get a better picture of the area! Basically... it's a big monster with a pocket chart in his mouth :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VcxkGCeaXqQ/Vgjns44Dt6I/AAAAAAAABtw/S4Wma0ZQges/s1600/Monster%2BTheme%2BPocket%2BChart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Building CVC words and so many other fun ideas - love the monster pocket chart!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VcxkGCeaXqQ/Vgjns44Dt6I/AAAAAAAABtw/S4Wma0ZQges/s640/Monster%2BTheme%2BPocket%2BChart.png" title="Building CVC words and so many other fun ideas - love the monster pocket chart!" width="480" /></a></div>I found this fun furry monster rug that's teal with lime and hot pink furry strands that stick out. Then I also fell in love with this little stuffed monster guy who's mouth is actually a front pocket so it's perfect for keeping the teaching pointer in but I wanted to show you that too. I wrapped a finger pointer in a green boa to make a monster arm for pointing to the pocket chart with!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AFve4nCcr40/Vgjnsl5bBYI/AAAAAAAABt0/0qSEHI8MjDs/s1600/Monster%2BTheme%2BRug%2Band%2BBuddy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AFve4nCcr40/Vgjnsl5bBYI/AAAAAAAABt0/0qSEHI8MjDs/s640/Monster%2BTheme%2BRug%2Band%2BBuddy.png" width="364" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then I found these cute little monster buckets for only a dollar each that I put the pocket chart center materials in!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BP7RHXI-M-U/VgjnlMud9SI/AAAAAAAABtk/lktI79nSbJs/s1600/Monster%2BTheme%2BBuckets.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="296" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BP7RHXI-M-U/VgjnlMud9SI/AAAAAAAABtk/lktI79nSbJs/s400/Monster%2BTheme%2BBuckets.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Anyways! Back to the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Short-Vowels-Pocket-Chart-Centers-and-Materials-2119830" target="_blank">pocket chart center cards</a> I was talking about...<br /><br />There are a ton of them and you can do SO MUCH with them!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1P8-1KwDeFU/VgjWtuonPEI/AAAAAAAABqI/WGzM8Lktx84/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2B-%2BCards%2Bv.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1P8-1KwDeFU/VgjWtuonPEI/AAAAAAAABqI/WGzM8Lktx84/s640/Pocket%2BChart%2B-%2BCards%2Bv.png" width="480" /></a></div><br />You can use the sorting headers that come with the cards to make this a great sorting pocket chart center where they sort the picture cards by word family.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9h3mVUt9LSA/VgjW_x3dRHI/AAAAAAAABqw/pTDfPneSdVk/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2B-%2BWord%2BFamilies%2BSort.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Sorting short a words by word family and other fun ways to teach short vowels" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9h3mVUt9LSA/VgjW_x3dRHI/AAAAAAAABqw/pTDfPneSdVk/s640/Pocket%2BChart%2B-%2BWord%2BFamilies%2BSort.png" title="Sorting short a words by word family and other fun ways to teach short vowels" width="486" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Or you can have them sort horizontally...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z4RFdqQaG2k/VgjW1EPRIvI/AAAAAAAABqU/WSRAEEbfk0w/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2B-%2BWord%2BFamilies%2BSort%2Bvert%2Bclose.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z4RFdqQaG2k/VgjW1EPRIvI/AAAAAAAABqU/WSRAEEbfk0w/s640/Pocket%2BChart%2B-%2BWord%2BFamilies%2BSort%2Bvert%2Bclose.png" width="640" /></a></div>Another thing I like to do with the picture cards that kiddos love is building the words with magnet letters. Any time you tell them they can use the whiteboard (or whiteboard easel), you are immediately crowned the BEST TEACHER EVER... or at least for an hour. I know I say that about a lot of things but hey, a lot of things impress them. Use pretzel sticks instead of base ten blocks or go to recess 5 minutes early or let them use smelly markers and you're queen for the day. It's the little things. :)<br /><br />Let them pick out cards and build the words with magnet letters on the whiteboard.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mqcw2f25yxU/VgjXseBQNYI/AAAAAAAABsc/de6Dpz4trtM/s1600/Work%2B-%2BWhiteboard.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Building words with magnet letters on the whiteboard - so many fun word work ideas on this post!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mqcw2f25yxU/VgjXseBQNYI/AAAAAAAABsc/de6Dpz4trtM/s640/Work%2B-%2BWhiteboard.png" title="Building words with magnet letters on the whiteboard - so many fun word work ideas on this post!" width="486" /></a></div><br />If you'd rather students stay at their seats during centers, you can also easily use a magnetic cookie sheet from the dollar store that are perfectly lap sized for students to put the cards on and build with <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/must-have-classroom-supplies.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">magnet letters</a> in their lap.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--ZNBL3nBsdI/VgnK2ZresLI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/Fb6M-TKIj10/s1600/Slide49.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Use a magnetic cookie sheet from the dollar store to build words (lots of ideas on this post for word work and short vowels)" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--ZNBL3nBsdI/VgnK2ZresLI/AAAAAAAAB4Y/Fb6M-TKIj10/s640/Slide49.PNG" title="Use a magnetic cookie sheet from the dollar store to build words (lots of ideas on this post for word work and short vowels)" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />You can also just let students take the cards and a blank sheet of copy paper and STAMP them. Stamps are always an engaging activity! I LOVE <a href="http://www.teacherslovelists.com/best-teacher-tools/reading-must-haves/" target="_blank">these alphabet stamps</a> because the letters are perfectly primary.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZSzDuw6UI-A/VgjXGeadzBI/AAAAAAAABrA/hvKUhZNUG2o/s1600/W%2B-%2BStamping.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Stamping CVC words and other fun working with words ideas for short vowels" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZSzDuw6UI-A/VgjXGeadzBI/AAAAAAAABrA/hvKUhZNUG2o/s640/W%2B-%2BStamping.png" title="Stamping CVC words and other fun working with words ideas for short vowels" width="520" /></a></div><br />You can also put them around the room and have students find them and write them on a piece of paper. I call that activity "Find and Write" - super easy. Use that tack putty stuff to hang them on walls- it doesn't leave a mark and goes on/comes off easy and you can peel it off and reuse it.. I love it! So all you do is put the cards around the room, tell kids how many there are, have them grab a piece of paper and a clipboard, and have them search for them and hunt for them all. Fun, easy practice that gets them up and moving!<br /><br />I also LOVE sand writing!! You can get colored sand really cheap at craft stores. Fill a pencil box with it for easy storage and have students put a card at the top and trace the word in the sand while saying the sounds in the word.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><img alt="Fill a pencil box with sand to make an easy grab and go center to practice words - love these ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hcogPUvXw0Y/VgjXDcUbHoI/AAAAAAAABq4/6SY8e9r94ms/s640/W%2B-%2BSand.png" title="Fill a pencil box with sand to make an easy grab and go center to practice words - love these ideas" width="480" /></div><br />To make them a quick and easy matching center, snip the bottoms off and have them match the picture to the words as a little small group activity or literacy center.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q1q6-rKghBY/VgjWswCFfQI/AAAAAAAABqE/BZ6NKgUyqWo/s1600/Pocket%2BChart%2B-%2BSnipped.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-q1q6-rKghBY/VgjWswCFfQI/AAAAAAAABqE/BZ6NKgUyqWo/s400/Pocket%2BChart%2B-%2BSnipped.png" width="301" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>You can also laminate them and put them on a <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/must-have-classroom-supplies.html" target="_blank">binder ring</a> so students can grab it any time they need for help writing or spelling or just to practice reading the words.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nEXB25SyYG4/Vgm7NeQQpXI/AAAAAAAABxU/qJj9Ts9nrmk/s1600/W%2B-%2BPC%2BCards%2BRing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="498" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nEXB25SyYG4/Vgm7NeQQpXI/AAAAAAAABxU/qJj9Ts9nrmk/s640/W%2B-%2BPC%2BCards%2BRing.png" width="640" /></a></div>I like to put them on hooks so you can just grab the sound you want words for and take them to your seat or the writing center.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t8LvTnVR2Vg/VgnLfT8K9fI/AAAAAAAAB44/7rN7GhginxU/s1600/Slide52.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Put words for the weekly phonics skill on a binder ring so kids can grab and go to read them, write them, whatever!" border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t8LvTnVR2Vg/VgnLfT8K9fI/AAAAAAAAB44/7rN7GhginxU/s400/Slide52.PNG" title="Put words for the weekly phonics skill on a binder ring so kids can grab and go to read them, write them, whatever!" width="300" /></a></div><br />Speaking of the <span style="font-size: large;">writing center</span>, here's my little writing center! It's tiny and not too fancy but I like it. The "Writing Center" sign I just stole the letter headers from my black and white polka dots with pink trim <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Wall-836751" target="_blank">word wall set</a> - I have them in other styles/colors too but this is the pink &amp; lime corner so I did pink :) - I like to take the letter headers from them to use to label stuff because I'm lazy and I like designing my own letters so they all match and aren't as huge as the ones you buy. ANYWAY!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3kP669QC_I8/Vgm724bJrtI/AAAAAAAABys/Qq3l-RPdJQs/s1600/Writing%2BCenter%2BArea.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="How to set up your writing center" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3kP669QC_I8/Vgm724bJrtI/AAAAAAAABys/Qq3l-RPdJQs/s640/Writing%2BCenter%2BArea.png" title="How to set up your writing center" width="476" /></a></div>As you can see, there are writing materials and a Short A words chart for students to use for writing inspiration and for correct spelling of the short a words. The short a word chart is in my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Short-A-1429680" target="_blank">short A no prep pack</a>&nbsp;- I have one for each phonics sound in the no prep pack it comes in.<br /><br />I just throw them all in an upside down binder in sheet protectors and flip to the sound that week. It's nice because kids can flip through if they want a different word that makes a different sound. Since they're black and white, you can also print one for each kid to color themselves and keep in their writing folder for reference.<br /><br />I also throw my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writing-1268577" target="_blank">Themed Writing Charts</a> in the binder for fun word choices by theme. They come in color &amp; black/white too but I throw the color ones in there because I think the color helps spark the imagination :) They have fun themes like ocean words, bugs, farm animals, zoo animals, nature words, home and family words, foods, color words, etc.!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KyTjoCRPIGk/Vgm74CiTziI/AAAAAAAABy0/7Co02DqDQeQ/s1600/Writing%2BCenter%2BCharts.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Themed writing charts for the writing center so kids can pick a topic and have fun inspiration - great for reluctant writers or just for fun!" border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KyTjoCRPIGk/Vgm74CiTziI/AAAAAAAABy0/7Co02DqDQeQ/s400/Writing%2BCenter%2BCharts.png" title="Themed writing charts for the writing center so kids can pick a topic and have fun inspiration - great for reluctant writers or just for fun!" width="302" /></a></div><br />Other fun sheets in the writing center are these writing helper sheets that have the short a words on the side. They're also included in my <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/literacy.html" target="_blank">no prep packs</a> or I have them in <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Writing-Helper-Sheets-By-Phonics-Sound-2110726" target="_blank">a year set</a> with all the phonics sounds. I recommend the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Phonics-No-Prep-Massive-MEGA-Bundle-1701361" target="_blank">Phonics No Prep Mega Bundle</a> of all the phonics packs bundled instead but if you just want these writing sheets, they're in that year set I linked above. Please note that the phonics no prep mega bundle doesn't include the hands-on centers - if you want those, they're in the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Short-Vowels-2004194" target="_blank">Short Vowels Ultimate Bundle</a>!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uq8VY8mGxEg/VgjXsigo1QI/AAAAAAAABsY/-Do9oqUwzUs/s1600/Writing%2BHelper%2BSheets.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Love these writing pages with words on the side (each page has a different phonics focus - these are short a words)" border="0" height="488" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Uq8VY8mGxEg/VgjXsigo1QI/AAAAAAAABsY/-Do9oqUwzUs/s640/Writing%2BHelper%2BSheets.png" title="Love these writing pages with words on the side (each page has a different phonics focus - these are short a words)" width="640" /></a></div>As you can see, there is the one drawing box and writing lines option to write a story using the short a words on the side OR a version that has 3 different boxes each with its own set of writing lines which is good for your lower students or just for individual sentence writing practice.<br /><br />There are TONS of other pages in my <a href="http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Short-A-Worksheets-Activities-NO-PREP-1429680" target="_blank">Short A Worksheets and Activities NO PREP pack</a> as well - it has over 45 fun and differentiated worksheets and activities that are no prep - you can just print them and hand them to your students... which, let's be real, is such a plus. Teachers spend so much time prepping and anything you can just get and immediately use without any cutting/laminating/thinking is a dream come true. I have them for pretty much <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/p/literacy.html" target="_blank">every phonics sound</a> and the activities are consistent so once you explain them once, they can do them all year and all that changes is the phonics skill they focus on so students can spend all their cognitive energy on practicing that sound rather than how to do the activity.<br /><br />As I say in this blog over and over, differentiating for all students - both low students AND <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/03/how-to-keep-gifted-students-engaged-and.html" target="_blank">high students</a> - is really important to me so I try to include the same activities in different levels as much as possible.<br /><br />For example, for these "Write the Word" worksheets, you could give your on level kids the sheet on the left and your higher kids the sheet on the right. You could also start with the easier and move on to the harder one if/when your students are ready.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gTZY2wMLl8I/VgnUi9tpcBI/AAAAAAAAB_c/Bh_eDhAXOvY/s1600/WS%2BWrite%2Bthe%2BWord%2Bh.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="490" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gTZY2wMLl8I/VgnUi9tpcBI/AAAAAAAAB_c/Bh_eDhAXOvY/s640/WS%2BWrite%2Bthe%2BWord%2Bh.png" width="640" /></a></div>Another example are these worksheets where your low kids do the sheet where they just have to trace the word and write it, your on level kids figure out the beginning sound then write the word, and your high kids have to figure out the beginning <i>and</i>&nbsp;ending sound to figure out the word.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QfxNB84zmls/VgnDDHPGQtI/AAAAAAAABzk/_hmJ29EpPNU/s1600/Slide102.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QfxNB84zmls/VgnDDHPGQtI/AAAAAAAABzk/_hmJ29EpPNU/s320/Slide102.PNG" width="240" /></a>&nbsp;<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ug0G_tr1ANY/VgnUfdlWOpI/AAAAAAAAB_E/yOBQrxH-Dio/s1600/WS%2BPhonics%2BFun%2Bh.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ug0G_tr1ANY/VgnUfdlWOpI/AAAAAAAAB_E/yOBQrxH-Dio/s320/WS%2BPhonics%2BFun%2Bh.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br />There are a lot of great worksheets to challenge your higher kids that are fun for everyone too!<br /><br />A few of my favorites....<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--NAfjgeL-WI/VgnD_1slQEI/AAAAAAAAB0I/E6AI9NHoDB0/s1600/Slide107.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--NAfjgeL-WI/VgnD_1slQEI/AAAAAAAAB0I/E6AI9NHoDB0/s640/Slide107.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><br />Students put a paperclip on the spinner, put their pencil in the middle, and flick it to land on the word family to add to the next letter. They write it and if it makes a real word, they circle it!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qhgDFs_7YxU/VgnQ02f6G5I/AAAAAAAAB8E/hjGbvRlqO-s/s1600/Slide78.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A-maze-ing sentences! Click to see all of these fun short vowels activities!" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qhgDFs_7YxU/VgnQ02f6G5I/AAAAAAAAB8E/hjGbvRlqO-s/s640/Slide78.PNG" title="A-maze-ing sentences! Click to see all of these fun short vowels activities!" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Students start at the shaded box and read the short A words to go through the maze to figure out the sentence that matches the picture. It is SO FUN and one of my absolute favorites.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pME_p54wq2w/VgnCZpFWjTI/AAAAAAAABzE/9jgOc0rsNcU/s1600/Slide100.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pME_p54wq2w/VgnCZpFWjTI/AAAAAAAABzE/9jgOc0rsNcU/s640/Slide100.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Crossword puzzles are also one of my favorites! You may be thinking it's too difficult but students are motivated to figure it out so they do! They just look at the picture and find the word that it is and write it in the boxes!<br /><br />My Secret Word activity is also a popular one. You can get a few free ones for short a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Short-A-1174492" target="_blank">here</a>. They're a little different than the one in the no prep pack (I used a different font for the letters they use).<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z_P_FFWzSiQ/VgnDl7BPFlI/AAAAAAAAB0A/FqF2ClWRJfI/s1600/Slide106.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-z_P_FFWzSiQ/VgnDl7BPFlI/AAAAAAAAB0A/FqF2ClWRJfI/s640/Slide106.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><br />Students look at the pictures and build each word. Then, for the 4th picture, they unscramble the letters they have leftover to figure out the secret word! Then, they build it and draw/color it.<br /><br /><br />To differentiate for your <b>struggling students</b>, I recommend a lot of word family practice and pictures to aid their understanding.<br /><br />These are the steps I recommend following for your struggling students (or to scaffold for the class in general):<br /><br />Start with JUST pictures first to help them hear the sounds in the words like -at in CAT.<br /><br />Examples of this would be coloring by word family:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TMFVFV-muXA/VgnSEWazoHI/AAAAAAAAB80/IC7pB2G-ttE/s1600/Slide84.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TMFVFV-muXA/VgnSEWazoHI/AAAAAAAAB80/IC7pB2G-ttE/s400/Slide84.PNG" width="300" /></a></div><br />Or sorting pictures by word family:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Go9djfJBAeQ/VgnTYDr8_8I/AAAAAAAAB90/PpSql2a-SUg/s1600/Slide92.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Go9djfJBAeQ/VgnTYDr8_8I/AAAAAAAAB90/PpSql2a-SUg/s400/Slide92.PNG" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br />Then add the task of matching pictures to words:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iAM5z5sadLo/VgnUh_7zW0I/AAAAAAAAB_U/Wchih8LFSt4/s1600/WS%2BWord%2BFamily%2BPicture%2BMatch%2Bh.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="488" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iAM5z5sadLo/VgnUh_7zW0I/AAAAAAAAB_U/Wchih8LFSt4/s640/WS%2BWord%2BFamily%2BPicture%2BMatch%2Bh.png" width="640" /></a></div>Each one of these focuses on only 2 word families at a time so it's not too overwhelming. Then there's one that practices all families together as a review.<br /><br />NEXT, practice simply finding those words in sentences.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WbF1cmkXLb4/VgnUYmWcr8I/AAAAAAAAB-s/pXkPnfBq_JE/s1600/WS%2BCircle%2Band%2BSort%2Bh.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WbF1cmkXLb4/VgnUYmWcr8I/AAAAAAAAB-s/pXkPnfBq_JE/s640/WS%2BCircle%2Band%2BSort%2Bh.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />For circle and sort, they find the words in the sentences that belong in certain short a word families. These are great because even your non-readers are finding the words in context and sorting them. I recommend having them circle the words from each family in a different color using markers and writing them in that color at the bottom like I did. The color coding really helps them see it. After they circle and sort, they can try to read their sentences!<br /><br /><br />Now that they are ready for sentences, I recommend practicing them at a very basic level.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FE1AmW_V8Pg/VgnSQZSMQ1I/AAAAAAAAB9E/3nwEw4rZRZg/s1600/Slide86.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FE1AmW_V8Pg/VgnSQZSMQ1I/AAAAAAAAB9E/3nwEw4rZRZg/s640/Slide86.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><br />These are simple for your low students to feel successful writing their own sentences by first tracing it then rewriting it on the lines. The picture on the side will help them decode the sentence when they read it. It's a great confidence booster that practices both reading and writing short a words in real sentences which can be important for your reluctant readers and writers.<br /><br />When you feel like they can move on to sentences, the picture matching cut and paste activities can be really helpful because they read the sentences and find the picture that matches. If they have trouble reading a word, the picture can give them clues so that makes it helpful. They simply glue it to the sentence that matches. :)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vpfM0m0bMnI/VgnTMK8NIhI/AAAAAAAAB9k/iIhTverYIw8/s1600/Slide90.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vpfM0m0bMnI/VgnTMK8NIhI/AAAAAAAAB9k/iIhTverYIw8/s640/Slide90.PNG" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />As you can see, you can step-by-step get them there! They may take longer but every student CAN do it. That is something I have always firmly believed.<br /><br />Like I said, you can grab all these pages in my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Short-A-1429680" target="_blank">Short A Worksheets &amp; Activities NO PREP Pack</a>!<br /><br />Alright, now for more of the FUN STUFF.....<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">Centers!</span><br /><br />One of my favorite centers is <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Secret-CVC-Words-2043661" target="_blank">SECRET CVC Words</a>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WstsC87Vq1M/VgjWju399vI/AAAAAAAABpo/3FQVCUxVkWI/s1600/Center%2BSecret%2BWords%2Bm%2Bclose.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Secret CVC words where kids look at each picture to figure out its beginning sound to figure out the secret word! Check out these fun word work ideas!" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WstsC87Vq1M/VgjWju399vI/AAAAAAAABpo/3FQVCUxVkWI/s640/Center%2BSecret%2BWords%2Bm%2Bclose.png" title="Secret CVC words where kids look at each picture to figure out its beginning sound to figure out the secret word! Check out these fun word work ideas!" width="486" /></a></div><br />You may remember <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/09/secret-sight-words-giveaway.html" target="_blank">my blog post</a> about my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Secret-Sight-Words-1342385" target="_blank">Secret Sight Words</a>....<br /><br />People told me how much they loved the sight words ones so I made them for various phonics sounds like <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/CVC-Words-Roll-1504049" target="_blank">CVC words</a>, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Secret-CVCe-Words-1838390" target="_blank">CVCe words</a>, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Secret-Words-Blends-1847091" target="_blank">beginning blends</a>, <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Vowel-Teams-2017104" target="_blank">vowel teams</a>, etc. and these are the CVC ones!<br /><br />I LOVE them because kids get to be word detectives while also practicing reading CVC words AND practicing their beginning sounds. Students look at the picture to figure out its beginning sound and put their letter magnet underneath it. They do this for each picture until they spell the secret CVC word.<br /><br />I actually love <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2016/06/bottle-cap-cvc-word-building-centers.html" target="_blank">using bottle caps</a> that I write letters on with a permanent marker because it's cheap, easy, and I don't care if letters get lost.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ey6m5HTLCuw/VgjnfXL2g4I/AAAAAAAABtQ/cqeLEwh9D1A/s1600/Center%2BSecret%2BWords%2Bbb%2Bclose.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Recycle bottle caps to play secret words! Kids look at the beginning sound of each picture to figure out the secret CVC words" border="0" height="486" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Ey6m5HTLCuw/VgjnfXL2g4I/AAAAAAAABtQ/cqeLEwh9D1A/s640/Center%2BSecret%2BWords%2Bbb%2Bclose.png" title="Recycle bottle caps to play secret words! Kids look at the beginning sound of each picture to figure out the secret CVC words" width="640" /></a></div><br />You can also laminate them and write on them with dry erase markers!<br /><br />For an extra challenge, I also make <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Sign-Language-Secret-CVC-Words-2043891" target="_blank">a sign language version</a> of this center! This is great for your students who need an extra challenge because they're practicing their words and technically learning a new language... your high kids will eat. this. up.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fmbe_J6qpWQ/VgjnkHQHOrI/AAAAAAAABto/JEYmN1c_Eog/s1600/Center%2BSecret%2BSign%2BLanguage%2BCVC%2BWords.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Secret American Sign Language words literacy center and other fun reading activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fmbe_J6qpWQ/VgjnkHQHOrI/AAAAAAAABto/JEYmN1c_Eog/s640/Center%2BSecret%2BSign%2BLanguage%2BCVC%2BWords.png" title="Secret American Sign Language words literacy center and other fun reading activities" width="478" /></a></div>I include a Sign Language Alphabet chart in both color and black and white for students to reference as well. They'll have a lot of fun signing their names and friends' names and words around the room when they're done - trust me, you'll catch them :)<br /><br />Speaking of names, I actually make these cards CUSTOM for the kids' names in your class too in case you didn't know! I LOVE making them and seeing all of the unique names around the country/world. You can order your class list's names <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Name-Activities-1834857" target="_blank">here</a> if you want them. After you order, you just send me a list of your kids' first names (up to 30). Any time you get a new student, just send me an email and I'll add it for you if you haven't used up your 30 names. You also get access to ALL of the names - I add all of the names teachers have ordered to the file alphabetized and hyperlinked so you can easily see if any of your students' names are already included to use less of your 30. You have up to a year from date of purchase to use all your names but you can always re-download the file to see what new names have been added... there are a TON of names in there already and I've been adding more like crazy as teachers send me their lists!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_lwWOUaoTw/VUJuY5Ijf0I/AAAAAAAABHo/wM0C0WYKeoU/s1600/Secret%2BNames%2B2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Z_lwWOUaoTw/VUJuY5Ijf0I/AAAAAAAABHo/wM0C0WYKeoU/s640/Secret%2BNames%2B2.png" width="484" /></a></div><br /><br />A great FREE center for your lower and ELL students are my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/FREE-Short-A-Clip-Cards-2065570" target="_blank">free Short A clip cards</a>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t69Xfsn_2-Y/VgjhRbGd4GI/AAAAAAAABs8/F2Io2q_OfYc/s1600/Short%2BA%2BClip%2BCards.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="FREE short a clip cards" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-t69Xfsn_2-Y/VgjhRbGd4GI/AAAAAAAABs8/F2Io2q_OfYc/s640/Short%2BA%2BClip%2BCards.png" title="FREE short a clip cards" width="480" /></a></div>Kids simply read the word in the middle and put a clothespin on the picture that matches the word. Easy practice!<br /><br /><br />Another center great for your lower students is this <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Reading-Centers-940898" target="_blank">word/picture match pocket chart center</a>. It's super simple - kids just match the word to the picture on the pocket chart and record on their recording sheet. This pack has all the sounds for the year in it but only SIX words per sound / recording sheet so it's a great center that won't overwhelm your lower kiddos.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TVCfqRmzfCM/VgjWdNnfWxI/AAAAAAAABpY/D169fqhrvMw/s1600/Center%2BPic%2BWord%2BMatch.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="483" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TVCfqRmzfCM/VgjWdNnfWxI/AAAAAAAABpY/D169fqhrvMw/s640/Center%2BPic%2BWord%2BMatch.png" width="640" /></a></div><br />Okay, okay, so I'm SO super excited to debut this one!<br />My <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2014/10/cvc-words-roll.html" target="_blank">blog post about my CVC Words Roll activity</a> has been one of my most popular blog posts (and resources by far)... and that activity practices all 5 short vowel sounds by rolling the dice to make words. I get so many awesome emails from kindergarten and first grade teachers that love them! I kept noticing that the kinder teachers weren't using them until after winter break since they hadn't learned all the vowel sounds yet...<br /><br />SO, I decided to make ones that focus on each short vowel so you awesome kindergarten teachers can use them right away!! I not only made dice and differentiated mats that will produce words from all 6 popular short a word families (at, ap, am, an, ad, ag), I also differentiated it down <i>again</i>&nbsp;by making 3 other short a centers that each focus on only 2 word families at a time! I love these dice, too, because they produce a real short a word most of the time.. and when they don't, it's great nonsense word practice!<br /><br />I present to you.... <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Short-A-CVC-Words-Roll-2118649" target="_blank">Short A CVC Word Families Roll</a>!!<br /><br />This is the activity for all the short a word families where they roll the 2 dice (the onset and rime) to build their word! If that word is on their mat, they cover it! Cubes work great but any type of marker will work!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EhxDB7JZwRw/VgjXXdG-8oI/AAAAAAAABro/UyzcQlt_WsA/s1600/Word%2BRoll%2B-%2BRoll%2Band%2BCover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EhxDB7JZwRw/VgjXXdG-8oI/AAAAAAAABro/UyzcQlt_WsA/s640/Word%2BRoll%2B-%2BRoll%2Band%2BCover.png" width="484" /></a></div><br />They always put the dice in the same color order - and there is a directions sheet for each center if they forget!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1zJxtqTl6A/VgjXKSm_ZJI/AAAAAAAABrI/_dlIRAzjsPc/s1600/Word%2BRoll%2B-%2BAll%2B4%2BCenters%2B2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q1zJxtqTl6A/VgjXKSm_ZJI/AAAAAAAABrI/_dlIRAzjsPc/s640/Word%2BRoll%2B-%2BAll%2B4%2BCenters%2B2.png" width="484" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />For the "Short A Roll" that practices all 6 short a word families, I made 5 mats in the 4 x 5 grid for (20 pictures total) AND 5 mats in the easier 3 x 4 grid (12 pictures total) so students can each have their own sheet to play in groups, partners, etc. It's a great partner game or game to play in small groups!<br /><br />What I really love, though, are the ones that focus on 2 word families at a time to start out with. These are really targeted practice to get them working hard on those word families! Those centers each have 5 different mats in the 3 x 4 grid.<br /><br />Also, you can do the Roll and COVER version like I showed above or there's also Roll and COLOR where they are black and white versions of all the boards and kids take turns rolling the dice and coloring in the picture they rolled on their sheet. I LOVE this version as an easy print and use center. They will love playing again and again.<br /><br />So there's the center that practices all 6 families (-an, -ag, -at, -am, -ap, and -ad) at a time:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8VTplh6JAPE/VgjXgIwDdaI/AAAAAAAABr8/xiLfmkVCwkM/s1600/Word%2BRoll%2B-%2BWord%2BFamilies%2BPages.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8VTplh6JAPE/VgjXgIwDdaI/AAAAAAAABr8/xiLfmkVCwkM/s640/Word%2BRoll%2B-%2BWord%2BFamilies%2BPages.png" width="484" /></a></div><br />Then, there's 1 that practices -at and -am word families only:<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d3S76f-rCoo/VgjXhfYCxRI/AAAAAAAABsA/RlgtRy9U8n4/s1600/Word%2BRoll%2B-%2Bam%2Bat%2BColor.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="So many fun short vowel word families centers and activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d3S76f-rCoo/VgjXhfYCxRI/AAAAAAAABsA/RlgtRy9U8n4/s640/Word%2BRoll%2B-%2Bam%2Bat%2BColor.png" title="So many fun short vowel word families centers and activities" width="486" /></a></div><br /><br />and also 1 that practices -an &amp; -ap only...<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ajLI7qNWQsM/VgjXlfXQCjI/AAAAAAAABsI/8IqHoa-qM1c/s1600/Word%2BRoll%2B-%2Bap%2Ban%2BRoll%2Band%2BCover.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="So many fun short vowel word families centers and activities" border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ajLI7qNWQsM/VgjXlfXQCjI/AAAAAAAABsI/8IqHoa-qM1c/s640/Word%2BRoll%2B-%2Bap%2Ban%2BRoll%2Band%2BCover.png" title="So many fun short vowel word families centers and activities" width="478" /></a></div>and one that practices -ad &amp; -ag only!<br /><br />SO much reading practice!! And who doesn't love dice?? They can play it over and over again.. it can even get competitive! :)<br /><br />You can grab it here:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Short-A-CVC-Words-Roll-2118649" target="_blank">Short A CVC Word Families Roll</a><br />I made a set for each short vowel so they can keep playing it for the other vowels and then play the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/CVC-Words-Roll-1504049" target="_blank">CVC Words Roll version</a> with all the vowels mixed as an awesome review later!<br /><br /><br />Another center that I love is the PUZZLES center!! Can you believe I made it so far down this blog post without mentioning puzzles?? I'm pretty sure almost every concept I've blogged about has puzzles!<br /><br />So one puzzle idea I like as an easy activity for fast finishers is flipping a real puzzle upside down and writing the words on the back! Grab 3 pieces that fit together and write a short a CVC word on them. Do it for as many words as you want them to do (the more you do, the more challenging the activity). I recommend making a baggie level A (6 words), baggie level B (15 words), and baggie level C (30 words)... this will keep them SO BUSY putting the words together, it's amazing.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-peJc7r8lXtU/VgnLe8rbydI/AAAAAAAAB40/4KBSbgbBTeI/s1600/Slide50.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Flip a puzzle upside down and write words on them to make easy reading centers" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-peJc7r8lXtU/VgnLe8rbydI/AAAAAAAAB40/4KBSbgbBTeI/s640/Slide50.PNG" title="Flip a puzzle upside down and write words on them to make easy reading centers" width="480" /></a></div><br />Make sure you skip at least 1 piece all around the ones you pick as 3 that go together so they only will match up with the letters they go with to spell each word. I took a 1,000 piece puzzle and made a ton of these for different words!<br /><br />You may remember I also made numbers 1-100 puzzles in <a href="http://missgiraffesclass.blogspot.com/2015/07/building-number-sense-in-first-grade.html" target="_blank">my number sense blog post</a> that people really seemed to love so this is a lot like that :) Just get a puzzle at the dollar store, flip it over, and voila!<br /><br />I also have ready to go puzzles I made for practicing the CVC words with picture help that are a lot of fun. These are the <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Short-A-1831804" target="_blank">Short A CVC Puzzles</a>!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4AepY9a2wOI/VgnaOThHvAI/AAAAAAAAB_o/-gYi7dpX6cE/s1600/Short%2BA%2BCVC%2BPuzzles.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="CVC words puzzles and other fun short vowels ideas and activities" border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4AepY9a2wOI/VgnaOThHvAI/AAAAAAAAB_o/-gYi7dpX6cE/s400/Short%2BA%2BCVC%2BPuzzles.png" title="CVC words puzzles and other fun short vowels ideas and activities" width="300" /></a></div>They come in 3 varieties:<br />1) Sorting pictures under the correct word family<br />2) Looking at the picture and building the CVC word under it<br />3) The same as #2 but with the word included for support<br /><br />They're an easy way to get your students building CVC words in a hands on way and allowing for differentiation.<br /><br />For more challenging puzzles, I LOVE using these <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Short-Vowels-Fluency-Puzzles-1850038" target="_blank">Short Vowels Reading Fluency and Sequencing Puzzles</a>!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aM8MOsklZI4/VgnMEmFXrBI/AAAAAAAAB5E/oUJL-Gn1wq8/s1600/Slide55.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Short vowels reading fluency and comprehension puzzles and other fun phonics ideas" border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aM8MOsklZI4/VgnMEmFXrBI/AAAAAAAAB5E/oUJL-Gn1wq8/s640/Slide55.PNG" title="Short vowels reading fluency and comprehension puzzles and other fun phonics ideas" width="480" /></a></div><br />Students read the fluency passage and then sequence the events of the story at the bottom. Simple, right? It's awesome targeted phonics practice, fluency practice, <i>and </i>sequencing practice.... and it looks like a game!<br /><br /><br /><br />Okay so now what do you do in....<br /><span style="font-size: x-large;">Small Groups</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Warm up</span><br />First, you need to warm up! Pick the word family you want to work on and build their stamina from there. I love my <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Families-1123847" target="_blank">Roll and Read Word Families set</a> for this. There are 56 different differentiated sheets for short a word families alone (the other short vowel word families are also included). Here's all the A ones (each stack has 8 different levels):<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aDy__OFwKUc/VgnNQTLbHzI/AAAAAAAAB50/Z0YXNaaju2o/s1600/Slide60.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Roll and read literacy centers that are differentiated into so many different levels for a ton of word families reading practice in words AND sentences" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aDy__OFwKUc/VgnNQTLbHzI/AAAAAAAAB50/Z0YXNaaju2o/s640/Slide60.PNG" title="Roll and read literacy centers that are differentiated into so many different levels for a ton of word families reading practice in words AND sentences" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Each word family comes with 2 levels of words also in 2 levels: with helper red text and without... and 2 levels of sentences also in 2 levels: with helper red text and without... so essentially there are 8 levels for each word family.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wh3a92mEQmQ/Vgm6sNTX6NI/AAAAAAAABwE/cEdrL1gNteg/s1600/Roll%2Band%2BRead%2Ban%2Bpages%2Bclose%2Bh.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Roll and read literacy centers that are differentiated into so many different levels for a ton of word families reading practice in words AND sentences" border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Wh3a92mEQmQ/Vgm6sNTX6NI/AAAAAAAABwE/cEdrL1gNteg/s640/Roll%2Band%2BRead%2Ban%2Bpages%2Bclose%2Bh.png" title="Roll and read literacy centers that are differentiated into so many different levels for a ton of word families reading practice in words AND sentences" width="640" /></a></div><br />So let's say Monday, for your warm up, you play <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Families-1123847" target="_blank">Roll and Read</a>&nbsp;where it focuses on words from the -at word family with the red helper font&nbsp;to help them blend. Then, once they're getting that down, give them the sheet with black only text. Tell them how they're such super smart readers and they're doing so well with the red that you think they can do the black only text - gasp! :) If they're still struggling with the red, obviously don't move on to the black &amp; repeat it again the next day - always go at the pace your kids are challenged but not frustrated by. :)<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gxNdtC08CQI/VgnN9GSIliI/AAAAAAAAB6U/u-qIt2S6l5Q/s1600/Slide65.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="So many reading fluency ideas and activities" border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gxNdtC08CQI/VgnN9GSIliI/AAAAAAAAB6U/u-qIt2S6l5Q/s400/Slide65.PNG" title="So many reading fluency ideas and activities" width="300" /></a></div><br />Tuesday's warm up - do the helper red words again but this time, if you feel like they're ready, give them the <i>sentences</i> with helper red next like this:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OAM0VgWHPRQ/VgnOSzuVYdI/AAAAAAAAB6k/7iSQjemdYXY/s1600/Slide67.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="A ton of fun reading fluency ideas!" border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OAM0VgWHPRQ/VgnOSzuVYdI/AAAAAAAAB6k/7iSQjemdYXY/s640/Slide67.PNG" title="A ton of fun reading fluency ideas!" width="480" /></a></div><br /><br />Wednesday: Repeat Monday (words with red then black only words) but with the Level B sheets. For your high group(s), start the Level Bs on Monday.<br /><br />Thursday: Repeat Tuesday (words with red then sentences with red) but with the Level B sheets.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JmKwD8qhqbg/VgnOmxKGH6I/AAAAAAAAB60/TKC86f0ojKY/s1600/Slide69.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Learning to read resources and ideas that will help build reading fluency" border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JmKwD8qhqbg/VgnOmxKGH6I/AAAAAAAAB60/TKC86f0ojKY/s400/Slide69.PNG" title="Learning to read resources and ideas that will help build reading fluency" width="300" /></a></div><br /><br />Friday: Black words then black sentences in whichever level you think they can handle! You could do the As then the Bs.<br /><br />These are great to throw in as a center as well for lots of reading practice! <a href="https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Word-Families-1123847" target="_blank">That set</a> includes the leveled roll and read activities you see above for the following word families: am, at, ap, ag, an, ad, ack, ig, in, im